One-Third of U.S. Consumers are Working a Second Job or Side Hustle in the Hopes of Stabilizing their Finances
Banking and Payments Intelligence Report
September 2025
More than Half are Working Longer Hours than Six Months Ago
As the number of consumers in the United States classified as financially unhealthy1 has remained flat, as measured by JD Power, many Americans are working harder to stabilize their finances.
Overall, 33% of consumers say they work either a second job or a “side hustle.” With an uncertain economic forecast and over half (68%) of consumers saying the cost of goods is growing faster than their incomes, more work and longer hours may become a fact of life.
Financial Health Steadies
Overall consumer financial health levels were stable in August. The share of consumers who are either vulnerable, overextended or stressed, remained steady at 64%, unchanged from July.
The percentage of consumers who say the price of goods is rising faster than their income declined in August to 68%, down from 71% in July. Vulnerable (79%), overextended (56%) and stressed (81%) consumers all saw at least a 3 percentage-point decrease. That’s noteworthy because consumer prices are still rising, but at least for this month, consumers aren’t feeling as sharp of a sting.
Side Hustles are Here to Stay
One-third (33%) of consumers report working a second job or maintaining a side hustle. The rate is highest among consumers under age 40 (45%) and those who are financially overextended (43%).
Earning extra income is the most common reason given (78%) for working an extra job or a side hustle, followed by paying off debt (29%), and saving toward a goal (28%).
More than half of respondents (53%) are working longer hours today than they were six months ago, and 17% of those are required to work longer by their employers. Financially overextended customers are the most likely to be working longer because of work demands, while those classified as financially vulnerable are putting in the additional hours to make ends meet.
What Role Should Banks Play in this Evolution?
As economic headwinds continue to swirl, it stands to reason that side hustles will become even more prevalent. Interestingly, more than half (54%) of consumers have gone through some form of major life experience in the last 12 months. These events range from moving to medical issues to divorce. And with many consumers lacking emergency savings funds, a second job or side hustle could soon become a necessity.
This is where banks can step in and play an important role. With consumers looking to make extra money to pay down debt or achieve a financial goal, banks can be valuable partners in prioritizing these goals and coming up with a plan on how to achieve them. With so many Americans working longer hours, there is likely a tipping point toward burnout, and if banks can help their customers put their second job or side hustle money to good use, it could help customers make the most of the money they have coming in.
Find out More
This Banking and Payments Intelligence Report is based on responses from 4,000 consumers nationwide and was fielded in August 2025. It was authored by Jennifer White, senior director of banking and payments intelligence at JD Power. Please contact us at the numbers below to connect with Ms. White or to learn more about the underlying research.
Media Contacts
Brian Jaklitsch; East Coast; 631-584-2200; [email protected]
Joe LaMuraglia, JD Power; East Coast; 714-621-6224; [email protected]
1 JD Power measures the financial health of any consumer as a metric combining their spending/savings ratio, creditworthiness, and safety net items like insurance coverage. Consumers are placed on a continuum from healthy to vulnerable.
