Despite record-high global employment in 2024, a new report by ADP Research titled “People at Work 2025” reveals a troubling trend: 57% of employees worldwide live paycheck to paycheck. Even more striking, nearly one in four respondents (23%) holds two or more jobs just to meet their essential expenses. Based on a global survey of nearly 38,000 workers across 34 countries, the report highlights stark regional disparities and generational divides in financial resilience.
Key Findings from the “People at Work 2025” Report
Financial Insecurity Persists Despite Employment
In Poland, 46% of workers say they live paycheck to paycheck, meaning their earnings only cover daily necessities. The trend of holding multiple jobs is relatively rare in Poland—only 10% of workers report doing so, the lowest rate among surveyed countries. The single-job model dominates across Europe (average of 84%), with Poland (90%), Italy (87%), and Germany (86%) leading the way. Curiously, in wealthier European countries such as Switzerland (24%) and Sweden (21%), moonlighting is more common.
Outside Europe, countries like Japan (89%), South Korea (87%), the UK, France, the Netherlands (85%), Canada (84%), and the US (83%) also show a strong preference for single-job employment.
More Jobs, But Still Struggling
Taking on additional work doesn’t necessarily translate into greater financial security. More than half (54%) of those with a single job report financial strain—along with 59% of workers with two jobs and 61% of those with three or more income streams.
Regional Differences in Living Paycheck to Paycheck
The situation is particularly difficult in Egypt (84%), Saudi Arabia (79%), and the Philippines (78%), where the majority of workers consume all their earnings each month. At the regional level, Africa and the Middle East report the highest rates of paycheck-to-paycheck living (70%), followed by Latin America (63%) and North America (58%). Europe (51%) and the Asia-Pacific region (48%) are in a relatively better position.
Generational Divide: Younger Workers Seek Experience
Younger employees (under 40) are more likely to take extra jobs to gain professional experience (40%) or finance education and training (nearly one-third). In contrast, only 27% of workers over 40 take side jobs to build experience, and just 21% do so to fund professional development.
Side Hustles: A Choice or a Necessity?
Most people with multiple jobs do so to meet essential living costs, save for retirement, or cover non-standard expenses. The side-hustle model is most prevalent in Africa and the Middle East (34%), followed by Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region (24% each). In many countries, especially where average wages fall short of living costs, having multiple jobs is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
In contrast, in more mature economies such as South Korea (18%), Japan (29%), Taiwan (30%), and China (31%), significantly fewer workers report living paycheck to paycheck.
In Poland, one-third of people with multiple jobs do so to meet current expenses. Yet more common motivations include saving for larger expenses (53%), building a financial safety net or pension (42%), or gaining new professional skills (33%). Notably, women are more likely than men to say they barely make ends meet (51% vs. 42%), as are workers over 55 (51%).
The Cost of Living Is a Challenge for Employers Too
“Wages are the primary source of income for most workers. Our data shows that even record-high employment levels don’t translate into financial security. Nearly two-thirds of people working three jobs still struggle to make ends meet,” said Nela Richardson, Chief Economist at ADP. “This is a signal to employers to take a more holistic approach to compensation.”
Anna Barbachowska, HR Director at ADP Poland, adds:
“For small and medium-sized enterprises dealing with tight margins, raising wages might not always be feasible. But creativity can go a long way—benefits like healthcare, one-time bonuses, or targeted subsidies (e.g., for sports, meals, or childcare) can significantly reduce financial strain on employees. These measures may also increase loyalty, boost productivity, and help build more cohesive and resilient teams.”
About the “People at Work 2025” Report
The “People at Work” report is based on ADP’s annual Global Workforce Survey, conducted since 2015. It provides insights into the world of work from the perspective of employees. The 2025 edition is based on responses from nearly 38,000 workers across 34 countries on six continents, offering a representative snapshot of the global labor force.
Respondents vary in age, industry, education level, and job type (remote or on-site), and come from organizations of all sizes—from small businesses to multinational corporations. The survey covers all employment levels, including entrepreneurs and gig workers.
A unique feature of the “People at Work 2025” series is its in-depth measurement of worker sentiment, using ADP’s proprietary methodology. In addition to demographic segmentation, respondents are categorized by job type—knowledge-based, skilled, or task-oriented—regardless of industry. This comprehensive approach enables detailed insights into labor trends, linking global developments with local realities.
The report addresses themes such as:
- The impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce
- Inflation and its influence on job choices
- Pay trends
- Career development opportunities
All with the goal of helping employers and policymakers better understand the evolving needs of workers in a fast-changing world.
Source: CEO.com.pl – “One Job Is Not Enough: Every Fourth Worker Has a Side Hustle”
