72% of US workers say they rely on a second income, while 26% say they need the side job just to cover the bills

Core Insights - Many Americans are struggling to meet basic living expenses due to rising costs, leading to a reliance on secondary income sources [1][4] Group 1: Economic Context - A MyPerfectResume survey indicates that 72% of U.S. workers now depend on at least one secondary source of income, a significant increase from previous years [2] - Nearly 40% of respondents attribute their need for additional income to inflation, while 72% believe rising costs have made side work more necessary [4] Group 2: Sources of Secondary Income - The survey reveals that secondary income sources include freelance or gig work (14%), investments (14%), side businesses (9%), passive income (9%), and second jobs (4%) [5] - More than half of the respondents (52%) feel more secure with additional income, and 68% state that side work does not interfere with their main job [5] Group 3: Challenges of Side Hustles - While side hustles can increase income, they may also lead to burnout and neglect of primary jobs, potentially harming personal relationships [6] - The decision to engage in a side hustle versus focusing on a primary job may depend on the compensation and promotion opportunities available in the main job [6]