Australia sees record rise in multiple job-holders

Australia is seeing a record rise in multiple job-holders, reaching 1 million people in June 2026. This represents 6.9 per cent of the employed population, the highest rate recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in approximately 25 years. The trend is particularly notable among women (7.7 per cent) and younger workers, with 11.2 per cent of 20 to 24-year-olds holding more than one job.

The hospitality sector is emerging as a primary source for supplemental income, offering casual and weekend roles that accommodate existing commitments. Data shows the accommodation and food services sector held approximately 1.35 million jobs in the June quarter, including roughly 126,000 secondary roles.

Concurrently, job vacancy data shows mixed signals. The ANZ-Indeed Australian job ads index reported a 2.2 per cent rise in job listings for September, a 12.9 per cent increase compared to the previous year. However, economists suggest this may lag behind broader economic cooling. Recent ABS reports indicated a fall of 3,000 vacancies (0.9 per cent) and a slight rise in the unemployment rate to 4.6 per cent.