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A New Measure of Multiple Jobholding in the U.S. Economy

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  • Keith A. Bailey
  • James R. Spletzer

Abstract

We create a measure of multiple jobholding from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics data. This new series shows that 7.8 percent of persons in the U.S. are multiple jobholders, this percentage is pro-cyclical, and has been trending upward during the past twenty years. The data also show that earnings from secondary jobs are, on average, 27.8 percent of a multiple jobholder’s total quarterly earnings. Multiple jobholding occurs at all levels of earnings, with both higher- and lower-earnings multiple jobholders earning more than 25 percent of their total earnings from multiple jobs. These new statistics tell us that multiple jobholding is more important in the U.S. economy than we knew.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith A. Bailey & James R. Spletzer, 2020. "A New Measure of Multiple Jobholding in the U.S. Economy," Working Papers 20-26, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    • Handle: RePEc:cen:wpaper:20-26
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hyatt, Henry R. & Spletzer, James R., 2017. "The recent decline of single quarter jobs," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 166-176.
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    5. Hirsch, Barry & Husain, Muhammad M. & Winters, John V., 2016. "The Puzzling Fixity of Multiple Job Holding across Regions and Labor Markets," IZA Discussion Papers 9631, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Abraham Katharine G. & Amaya Ashley, 2019. "Probing for Informal Work Activity," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 35(3), pages 487-508, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. McNamara, Trent & Mosquera, Roberto, 2025. "Government transparency and tax compliance: Evidence from an artefactual experiment supplemented with administrative data," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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