"There's a reason the term "side hustle" resonated in popular culture during the COVID-19 years. Motivated by the rise of remote work in 2020 and a historic inflation spike in 2022, many Americans chose to take on a second - or third, or fourth - source of income. Today, the pandemic has eased, inflation has cooled, and many workers have been called back to the office. But a new survey suggests American workers still have a taste for extra income."
"A large majority of Americans, 72%, rely on at least one source of secondary income, according to a nationally representative survey of 1,000 working adults by MyPerfectResume, the resume-building platform. Here are the top five sources of extra income: 14% of workers reported freelance or "gig" work. 14% reported income from investments, such as stock or crypto. 9% reported income from side businesses. 9% reported passive income, such as royalties or rent. 4% reported second jobs with a different employer."
Remote work growth in 2020 and an inflation spike in 2022 prompted many Americans to add side incomes. Although the pandemic has eased and inflation cooled, many workers continue pursuing extra income. A nationally representative survey of 1,000 working adults found 72% rely on at least one secondary income source. Top sources include freelance/gig work (14%), investment income such as stock or crypto (14%), side businesses (9%), passive income like royalties or rent (9%), and second jobs with a different employer (4%). Multiple-jobholding rose to 5.7% in November 2025. Average pay rose 18% from 2020–2024 while inflation rose 21%, eroding purchasing power and making secondary income often necessary for basic expenses. MyPerfectResume published its 2026 State of Secondary Income Report on Jan. 23.
Read at USA TODAY
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