Nearly 70% of Americans say they are actively looking for additional work in order to supplement their expenses due to the rising cost of living, says a survey by Bluecrew. According to the study:
American workers have taken a one-two punch in the last several years: just as pandemic-induced unemployment declines, inflation rates rapidly soar, forcing people around the country to reexamine how they’re spending and earning
Economic concerns may be driving the increase in the number of hours people want to work in order to make ends meet, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
Prices "through the roof"
The aforementioned survey revealed that more than half of the respondents have changed the way they view their jobs and reformed their lifestyle habits because of the high inflation. These concerns are driven in particular by the increased prices of food, gasoline, health care and housing, which are "through the roof":
-85% of Americans say inflation has influenced their recent spending and buying habits.
-72% of respondents say that inflation has changed the way they see their own salary.
-57% say they have been looking for extra work since last year due to the rising cost of living.
-More than half of the respondents said they actively sought additional seasonal work (e.g., doing extra shifts during vacations).
-65% say they plan to look for new opportunities in the coming months and in 2023 to further combat rising inflation.
Matt Laurinas, Bluecrew's chief customer officer, told CNBC that "Rapid inflation is forcing people to look at not only how they’re spending their money, but also how they’re earning their money."
In terms of the main criteria used by citizens when selecting a new job, the majority (57%) considered the "salary/payment" as a preference; more than half (56%) noted "work-life balance"; 51% named "schedule/flexibility"; and 39% pointed to "prioritizing their mental health."
The survey was conducted in September and asked more than 1,000 U.S. workers from diverse backgrounds.
