The trend has been dubbed 'deeply concerning' by ACTU
A record number of Australians have more than one job, according to a report from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) - with low wages one of factors driving the trend.
ACTU's report revealed that 867,900 Australians have more two or more jobs, the highest since the Australian Bureau of Statistics began tallying in 1994.
Sally McManus, ACTU secretary, said the record-breaking figures for multiple job holders are a "deeply concerning trend."
"The Morrison Government urgently needs to address the insecure jobs crisis plaguing this country. Australian workers have been doing it extremely tough for almost two years," added McManus. "More than half of those with two or more jobs are women. As usual women are left worse off. This Government refuses to prioritise even the most basic of women’s rights.”
Read more: Australians are juggling multiple careers – here's why
Low salary is one of the factors affecting this trend – as well as unsecure contracts brought about by the pandemic.
"Low pay, a lack of hours and employer responses to the pandemic have all driven this growing form of insecure work, which has dominated the earlier jobs recovery," read the report.
In addition, all industries except mining have recorded increases in multiple jobs since June 2020. The biggest ones were recorded in administrative and support services (108,500 jobs), health care and social assistance (32,600 jobs), accommodation and food services (23,600 jobs), and education and training (22,000 jobs).
Despite this, the report said that multiple job holders are still earning less than those who have just one job, with a 17.5% pay gap.
"The Morrison Government needs to act to ensure that working Australians have the quality of life that all working people should be able to rely on," urged McManus.
