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Twenty First Century Moonlighters

Issuesin Labor Statistics
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Summary 02-07 September 2002
Twenty-first century moonlighters
In May 2001, 7.8 million persons worked Hispanic moonlighters were about equally varied among persons with different work
multiple jobs in the United States, a figure
divided between working more than one job in
schedules. For example, among those who
representing 5.7 percent of all workers.
order to meet expenses or pay off debt (40.9
worked two full-time jobs, 39.3 percent did so
Why did these persons choose to work more
percent) and wanting to earn extra money (38.3
to meet expenses or pay off debt; this com-
than one job? To answer this question, the
percent). Among black multiple jobholders,
pares with 27.1 percent of persons with other
May 2001 Current Population Survey (CPS)
nearly half reported that they held more than
schedules, such as those working full time on
asked multiple jobholders: “What is the MAIN
one job to earn extra money, with an additional
the primary job and part time on the second-
reason you worked at more than one job?” Re-
one-third responding that they needed to meet
ary job. Among those who held two part-time
spondents were asked to choose among the
expenses or pay off debt. Nearly 1 in 5 whites
jobs, 8.5 percent did so to build a business or
following response options: Meet expenses or
worked multiple jobs because they enjoyed the
get experience in a different job, more than
pay off debt, earn extra money, build a busi-
second job, more than double the share of
double the share of moonlighters with other
ness or get experience in a different job, enjoy
blacks, and 7 percentage points higher than that
work schedules. Enjoyment of the second job
the second job, or some other reason.
of Hispanics. Nonetheless, more than 1 in 4
was the reason given by 21.5 percent of per-
Results from the May 2001 supplement
whites moonlighted in order to meet expenses
sons for whom the hours varied on at least one
reveal that more than 1 in 3 moonlighters
or pay off debt.
job, about 5 percentage points higher than for
worked multiple jobs in order to earn extra
Meeting expenses or paying off debt was the
workers with other schedules.
money, a category that could include saving for
primary reason why widowed, divorced, or sepa-
The overall number of multiple jobholders
the future or getting extra money to buy some-
rated persons held more than one job, with 39.9
has declined since the last CPS study on main
thing special. An additional 27.8 percent moon-
percent citing these reasons, compared with 24.3
reason for multiple jobholding was conducted
lighted in order to meet expenses or pay off
percent of married (spouse present) multiple
in May 1997. The percentage of workers re-
debt. Among the other common reasons for
jobholders. Conversely, a greater share of mar-
porting holding more than one job in order to
working multiple jobs, enjoyment of the sec-
ried persons (20.4 percent) than of widowed,
meet expenses or pay off debt also declined;
ond job was reported by 17.4 percent of moon-
divorced, or separated persons (13.7 percent)
however, it is difficult to determine how much
lighters, and 4.6 percent wanted to build a busi-
worked multiple jobs because they enjoyed the
of this was due to changes made in the ques-
ness or get experience in a different job. (See
work on the second job. Single (never married)
tion design.1
table and chart.)
persons were more likely to moonlight in order
For additional information on reasons for
As mentioned above, multiple jobholders
to earn extra money (43.0 percent) than were
multiple jobholding, contact Jennifer L.
gave various reasons for their decision to trade
married multiple jobholders (32.4 percent).
Hallmartel, Office of Employment and Unem-
in nonwork time for an additional job. These
Reasons for holding more than one job also
ployment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statis-
reasons varied depending on demographic char-
acteristics. For example, young workers (aged
Reasons for working more than one job, May 2001
16 to 24) were much more likely to work more
than one job in order to earn extra money (51.8
Reason not available
percent) than were persons aged 25 and older
2.3%
Other
(32.6 percent). It stands to reason that younger
reasons
workers, many of whom are not yet fully re-
12.5%
To meet expenses
sponsible for their own basic support, are
or pay off debt
likely to view their job(s) as providing “extra”
27.8%
money. The share of adults working multiple
Enjoys the
jobs in order to build a business or get experience
second job
in a different job, while relatively small to begin
17.4%
with, tended to decrease with age. Conversely,
the share of workers who moonlighted because
they enjoyed the second job tended to increase
with age. For example, only 9.3 percent of young
To build a business
workers (aged 16 to 24) reported that they
or get experience
worked multiple jobs because they enjoyed the
in a different job
4.6%
To earn extra
work on the second job, compared with 27.0
money
percent of older workers (aged 55 and older).
35.4%
tics, Washington, DC 20212. Telephone: (202)
1 In May 2001, the CPS question asked, “What
stead, the interviewer would code responses into
691-6378. E-mail address: Hallmartel_J@bls.gov.
is the MAIN reason you worked at more than
the most appropriate of the following catego-
Information in this report will be made avail-
one job?” The interviewer would then read the
ries: (1) to meet regular household expenses, (2)
able to sensory impaired individuals upon re-
following list, from which the respondent could
to pay off debts, (3) to save for the future, (4) to
quest. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal
choose one: (1) meet expenses or pay off debt,
get experience in a different occupation or to
Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339. This mate-
(2) earn extra money, (3) build a business or get
build a business, (5) to help out a friend or rela-
experience in a different job, (4) enjoy the sec-
tive, (6) to get extra money to buy something
rial is in the public domain and, with appro-
ond job, (5) some other reason. The same ques-
special, (7) enjoys the work on the second job,
priate credit, may be reproduced without per-
tion was asked in May 1997; however, the inter-
(8) changed jobs during the week, (9) other
mission.
viewer would not read the response options. In-
(specify).
Multiple jobholders by age, race, Hispanic origin, sex, marital status, work schedule, and reason for working more than one job, May 2001
Percent distribution by reason
Percent distribution by reason
To build a
To build a
To meet
business
To meet
business
ex-
To earn
or get
ex-
Enjoys
To earn
or get
Enjoys
Selected characteristics
penses extra
experi-
Selected characteristics
penses
the
extra
experi-
Other
the
Other
or pay money
ence
or pay
second
money
ence
reasons
second reasons
off debt
in a
off debt
in a
job
job
different
different
job
job
Age and sex
Race and Hispanic origin
Total, 16 years and older ............
27.8
35.4
4.6
17.4
12.5
White ........................................
27.1
33.7
5.1
18.6
13.1
16 to 24 years .......................
23.0
51.8
7.3
9.3
7.3
Black ........................................
32.8
47.4
2.2
8.2
7.3
25 to 34 years .......................
30.1
35.5
5.2
13.8
11.4
Hispanic ....................................
40.9
38.3
3.4
11.3
5.4
35 to 44 years .......................
29.9
34.1
4.1
17.5
12.5
45 to 54 years .......................
26.1
30.9
3.7
21.0
15.5
Marital status
55 years and older .................
26.9
26.5
3.1
27.0
14.7
Single .......................................
27.2
43.0
6.5
13.2
7.3
Married, spouse present ............
24.3
32.4
4.2
20.4
16.3
Other marital status1 ..................
39.9
33.5
3.2
13.7
7.6
Men, 16 years and older ............
26.6
35.7
4.2
17.6
14.0
16 to 24 years .......................
25.2
50.2
6.2
9.8
8.3
Women who maintain families .....
47.7
30.7
4.8
9.5
5.4
25 to 34 years .......................
27.8
37.3
5.1
14.6
11.4
Men who maintain families ..........
40.7
33.9
4.7
13.3
4.2
35 to 44 years .......................
29.0
35.1
2.6
17.1
14.8
45 to 54 years .......................
24.4
31.5
4.7
22.1
15.6
Work schedules
55 years and older .................
23.8
26.9
3.1
24.0
20.2
Primary job full time, secondary
job part time ............................
29.5
36.1
3.0
17.6
11.8
Women, 16 years and older ........
29.0
35.0
5.1
17.1
10.8
Primary job full time, secondary
16 to 24 years .......................
21.2
53.1
8.3
8.9
6.4
job ful time .............................
39.3
36.2
3.6
9.3
10.8
25 to 34 years .......................
32.8
33.4
5.4
12.8
11.5
Primary job part time, secondary
35 to 44 years .......................
30.9
33.1
5.7
18.0
10.0
job part time ...........................
23.7
36.3
8.5
14.7
13.7
45 to 54 years .......................
28.1
30.2
2.6
19.6
15.3
Hours vary on primary or
55 years and older .................
30.5
26.1
3.0
30.5
8.3
secondary job .........................
24.4
33.2
4.8
21.5
13.4
1 Includes persons widowed, divorced, and separated.
NOTE: Data on the number of multiple jobholders differ from the regularly published monthly data because of differences in the estimation procedures used to produce
the data. Detail will not sum to 100 percent because cases in which reasons for multiple jobholding were not available are not presented. Detail for race and Hispanic-
origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the “other races” group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.
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