A nation of job jugglers

THE rising cost of living and casualisation of the workforce is forcing Australians to take a second job to make ends meet.

“Part time” was the mostsearched term on job site SEEK this year, up from No.3 last year, but social analyst David Chalke said many jobseekers wanted more work hours, not fewer.

“Discretionary incomes in Australia are under huge pressure because wages have remained stagnant and costs in the household have gone through the roof,” the Strategy Planning Group principal said.

“The household budget is escalating so people are raiding their savings … and getting concerned about money. This is not people going from full time to part-time. They have got one part-time job and are looking for a second.

“If you have got a full-time job, you will hang on to it, but you may be looking to get a second, part-time job to cover the cost of electricity and fuel.”