'Life's so expensive': The workers juggling three jobs to make ends meet

'Life's so expensive': The workers juggling three jobs to make ends meet

A growing number of people in the UK are working multiple jobs to cope with the rising costs of living. Among them is Ashlin McCourt, a 28-year-old from Northern Ireland, who balances a 60-hour workweek across three roles: a civil servant, waitress, and baker. “You don’t even know you’re tired, you don’t even know you’re stressed anymore, because that’s your regular environment,” she explains. Her routine involves fitting in her secondary jobs around her main civil service work, highlighting the financial pressures many face, including high mortgage costs and limited opportunities for leisure.

This trend of “poly-employment” is particularly prominent among younger generations, especially those under 30. According to data from Deputy, a workforce management platform, around 1.35 million adults in the UK currently hold at least two jobs, with Gen Z workers driving much of this increase. Despite unemployment marking its highest rate in nearly five years, many employed individuals are supplementing their incomes through multiple roles. Ashlin’s experience, shared on social media, reflects a broader lifestyle where juggling jobs is a necessity rather than a choice.

Cait Yardy, 27, also typifies this situation. After the birth of her daughter, who has complex health issues, she found returning to a single full-time job unfeasible. Instead, she manages three jobs—working in a supermarket, tutoring privately, and creating social media content—to handle debts accrued during maternity leave and to save for a future home. “We are hoping this is something that doesn’t have to be forever,” Cait says, expressing a desire to move to a full-time job when her child starts school. Balancing multiple jobs affects family time, but she views it as the best option for now.

Similarly, 27-year-old Chloe Mayhew from Glasgow divides her time between freelance graphic design, teaching drama and dance, and working in a care home. Though her daily schedule can stretch to 14 hours, Chloe remains focused on her goal of securing a full-time, well-paid role in the creative sector by age 40. “Making money is always a priority,” she says. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Haylii from Essex combines social media content creation, which now delivers most of her income, with part-time hospitality work. For her, hospitality provides the social interaction and financial reliability that working solely online lacks. Dr. Paul Redmond, a specialist in generational work trends, notes that while part-time jobs can offer valuable experience and skill development, young people risk overextending themselves, potentially harming their wellbeing

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