A new MyPerfectResume survey of 1,000 U.S. workers shows that secondary income is no longer a backup plan. It is now a core part of how employees manage their finances. According to the 2026 State of Secondary Income Report, 72% of workers rely on at least one additional income source, up slightly from last year and signaling a long-term shift rather than a temporary response to inflation.
What began as a short-term solution during periods of high inflation has evolved into a permanent financial strategy for many employees. Rising costs, lingering debt, and uncertainty around wage growth continue to push workers to seek income beyond their primary job. For many, side work is no longer about extra spending money. It is about financial stability their main role alone cannot provide.
How workers are earning supplemental income
Workers report a range of approaches to earning additional income:
- Freelance or gig work at 14%
- Investments such as stocks or cryptocurrency at 14%
- Owning a side business at 9%
- Passive income from rentals or royalties at 9%
- A second job with another employer at 4%
Only a small share of workers now rely solely on their primary job, and that number continues to shrink. Side work has moved from the margins into the mainstream.
Cost of living remains the top driver
When asked what increased their reliance on secondary income, workers most often pointed to financial pressure rather than personal ambition:
- Rising prices and inflation at 29%
- Saving or paying down debt at 11%
- Seeking overall financial stability at 10%
Nearly 72% of respondents say inflation has made side work more necessary, even as economic indicators suggest inflation is slowing. On a personal level, supplemental income is being used primarily to cover essentials. Workers cite paying basic living expenses at 26%, reducing debt at 18%, building emergency savings at 17%, saving for major life goals at 16%, and affording nonessentials such as travel or hobbies at 15%.
The impact on wellbeing and engagement
Managing multiple income streams does come at a cost. Workers report declines in health at 21%, increased burnout at 15%, and less time for family or personal interests at 20%. At the same time, 28% say their workload feels very sustainable, suggesting that many employees are adapting to a two-income reality.
Secondary income also creates a different sense of job security. More than half of workers, 52%, say having additional income makes them feel more financially secure, even as 68% acknowledge that side work can interfere with their availability or ambition in their primary role.
Looking ahead, most workers expect side income to remain part of their lives. About 54% plan to maintain their current level of supplemental work, while 32% expect to increase it. Only 14% anticipate scaling back.
What this means for HR
For employers, this trend underscores the importance of having a clear moonlighting or outside employment policy in place. As secondary income becomes more common, organizations should define expectations around conflicts of interest, use of company resources, confidentiality, and work hours. Clear guidelines help protect the organization while giving employees transparency about what is permitted. Proactively addressing secondary employment can reduce risk, support compliance, and set boundaries that benefit both the employer and the employee.
Download a sample policy here. ASE members can access this template in the Zywave HR Services Suite accessible via the ASE Member Community. Additional sample policy language is available in CCH AnswersNow, also in the ASE Member Community.
Source: CCH