72% of U.S. workers now rely on secondary income: MyPerfectResume

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — A survey reveals that 72% of United States workers now rely on secondary income, signaling that side work has evolved from a temporary inflation-era stopgap into a permanent financial strategy for millions navigating economic uncertainty and stagnant wages.

According to the 2026 State of Secondary Income Report of 1,000 American employees by MyPerfectResume, “Key gig economy statistics in 2026 reveal that supplemental income has become essential for the vast majority of U.S. workers.”

“Rising costs, debt burdens, and uncertain wage growth have made secondary income a critical part of everyday financial survival.”

Secondary income becomes the new norm

The data shows a slight increase from 71% last year to 72% this year, confirming that the multi-income lifestyle is becoming firmly established rather than tapering off.

The almost universal acceleration of side work is also served by the fact that the number of employees who rely solely on their primary occupation has fallen drastically. 

The report prepared last year showed that 5% of workers depended solely on their main employment, and that figure has been significantly reduced. 

As the report notes, “Secondary income has moved beyond the inflation era; it’s now woven into the fabric of American work.”

Inflation and cost-of-living drive the hustle

Although macroeconomic indicators suggest inflation is easing, individual employees say the cost of living is the main factor motivating them to earn additional income. 

When asked what increased their dependence on secondary income, a majority (29%) pointed directly to increased prices and inflation. Overall, 72% of workers say rising costs have made side work more necessary, up from 64% the previous year.

For one in every four workers (26%), the top reason for this hustle is simply paying basic living costs. This is closely followed by paying off debt (18%) and building an emergency fund (17%). These figures indicate that for most, side income is not for discretionary spending, but for satisfying basic needs that primary wages fail to cover.

“The dominant motivations aren’t luxury or ambition—they’re survival. Workers are using supplemental income to stabilize budgets and protect themselves from economic volatility,” the report reads.

Workforce adapts despite health and burnout risks

Having various sources of revenue is a quantifiable cost on individual health. The survey shows that the negative effects are quite severe: 21% of workers report that their health has declined, 20% report having less time with family or hobbies, and 15% report being more burned out due to their dual employment. 

However, the data indicate that the workforce is learning to handle the pressure. Despite the difficulties, the majority of respondents reported that their current workload was very sustainable, indicating that most have already adjusted to a two-income lifestyle. 

Also, 68% of those surveyed claim that their side work has never affected their ambition or availability in their main job, indicating that employees are devising ways to segment their duties.

Side hustles reshape job security and wage expectations

The tendency to grow side money is radically changing how Americans view job security and pay. Fifty-two percent of workers reported feeling more secure because of the additional source of income, reflecting a psychological shift toward greater security from diversified income rather than a single employer. 

This feeling can be observed in the plans: 54% of them are inclined to continue working on the side as they do now in 2026, and 32% are going to have more.

The most telling aspect of all this, however, is that workers are no longer waiting for their employers to close the gap between their wages and the cost of living.

A growing contingent, 26%, now believes that side income could eventually replace traditional raises altogether. 

This shift is further evidenced by the fact that half of the respondents stated that only a significant raise from their primary employer would convince them to quit their side work. At the same time, one in four says they would never completely stop their supplemental income.

The report notes that “side hustles are evolving into a systemic feature of the labor market. If employers don’t adjust compensation, secondary income will continue absorbing the difference.”