In Australia, work has always been a way to provide for yourself and your family, but today it’s becoming about survival. With the cost-of-living crisis putting more financial strain on households, many Australians are turning to extra work—whether it’s picking up a second job or seeking better-paying roles—just to make ends meet. This shift shows how much the gap between wages and living costs has grown, and it’s causing significant stress for workers across the country.
A Growing Trend of Extra Work
Research by Finder has shed light on just how deep this issue runs. Almost half—48%—of Australian workers feel so financially stressed that they’re actively searching for ways to earn extra income. For some, this means picking up a second job. Others are looking for a new role that offers higher pay to help cover increasing expenses. The data paints a picture of a nation where basic wages can no longer keep up with rising living costs.
For many, it’s not just a desire for more income—it’s a matter of survival. “We are seeing a big shift where standard salaries no longer stretch to cover the essentials,” says to Yahoo Finance Sarah Megginson, a personal finance expert from Finder. “A single pay cheque often isn’t enough to cover the basics, let alone get ahead. Many are now forced to hunt for extra income just to make ends meet.”
The Strain Is Worse for Women
One of the more concerning aspects of this trend is how it disproportionately affects women. The survey shows that 54% of women reported feeling financial pressure to seek additional work, compared to only 42% of men. Why is this the case? For many women, the increase in household responsibilities, combined with often lower-paying jobs, makes it harder to cope with rising costs. With childcare and other responsibilities, many women feel like they’re not just working harder to make money—they’re working harder to keep everything afloat.
This is a significant economic inequality that we can’t ignore. The strain on women, particularly in the current economic climate, points to deeper societal issues about pay equity and support for families. It’s clear that something needs to change in order to help these workers, who are more often than not the ones holding everything together at home and at work.
What This Means for the Australian Workforce
This trend isn’t just about workers feeling a little more tired than usual. It’s about a major shift in how the Australian workforce operates. When nearly half of the working population is looking for a second job or a higher-paying role, it speaks volumes about the state of the economy. The cost of living isn’t just rising—it’s outpacing wage growth.
This shift may also have consequences for work-life balance, mental health, and overall productivity. As more Australians are stretched thin between multiple jobs, burnout and stress are becoming serious issues. The workforce may soon be facing not just a financial crisis but a mental health crisis as well.
The Need for Change
While people are doing their best to stay afloat, there’s no denying that the system is starting to break. The cost of living is rising faster than wages, and workers are left scrambling. Financial stress has entered the mainstream, and it’s no longer a hidden issue.
For Australia to thrive as it once did, these economic pressures need to be addressed. It’s time for a national conversation about fair wages, workplace support, and the growing gap between income and living costs. Because if half of the workforce is struggling to make ends meet, we all need to start asking some very hard questions about the future of the economy and its impact on our daily lives.
