Reddit Overemployed seems more hype than reality

the percentage of employed individuals with more than one job has decreased since 1996, falling from a peak of nearly 7% in November 1996 to 5.5% in December 2024. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this rate dropped to approximately 4%, but it has since rebounded to prepandemic levels. … First, the average age of multiple jobholders has consistently increased over the last three decades, aligning with population aging. As shown in the third figure, the most substantial increase occurred between 1994 and 2012, when the average age of multiple jobholders rose from approximately 37 to 42.

the share of those with a four-year college degree has risen, while the share without has fallen. The pandemic acted as a pivot, bringing both groups to nearly equal representation. Currently, about half of all multiple jobholders have a college degree.

I think the rub is in the shift noted. Traditionally if office work was done in-office you couldn’t be in two places at once. But when working remotely you can in effect do so. However overall census data indicates that OE is novel for office work, it remains relatively unremarkable in the broader workplace.

_{Quote Citation: Serdar Birinci , Carlos Garriga, “Beyond the 9 to 5: Decoding the Overemployment Trend”, March 03, 2025, https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2025/mar/beyond-9-5-decoding-overemployment-trend}