The growth in the number of people with second jobs has far outstripped the
increase in the amount of people in employment over the past 17 years, new
figures released on May 10 reveal.
While the number of employed people has risen by 18% since 1984, the number
of workers with second jobs has increased by a huge 68% - 1.1 million people
in employment had a second job in 2001, 670,000 of which were women.
Part time workers are almost three times as likely to have a second job,
with women in part-time positions claiming a 38% increase in second job
take-up since 1984, claims the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Labour
Market Trends report.
Up to 1993, the number of part-time workers with second jobs was higher for
men than for women. However, eight per cent of part-time female workers now
have a second job compared to 7.5% of men.
The reasons for this shift in numbers could be many, John Philpott, chief
economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
told HR gateway today, but Government incentives and a desire for
flexibility doubtless play a part, he believes:
”Part-time work has become much more lucrative with the incentives such as
tax credits and the National Minimum Wage pushing up earnings. There is also
the fact that women have trouble entering the full-time market and so may be
taking two part-time jobs to try and create a full wage with flexible hours”, he said.
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) agrees with Philpott and says that
the figures are a reflection of women’s desire for a more flexible working
environment:
”Women are trying to find jobs that can fit in around their children or
families. The figures seem to reflect this. Employers need to work at making
workplaces for flexible and allow women the chance to enter full-time work
instead of having to struggle with two jobs,” an EOC spokesperson told HR
Gateway today.
The figures also showed, much to the Government’s delight, that the UK is
becoming more entrepreneurial.
Self-employed status was more prevalent in second jobs than in first,
showing that ‘hobby jobs’ are alive and well - 26% of all second jobs were
self-employed.
”It seems as if hobby jobs are one way in which people are finding ways of
working flexibly. Many in the UK are testing the water to see if they can
turn a hobby into a business so that they can dictate their own hours,” said
John Philpott.