Most hourly workers aren't getting enough time on the job to make ends meet, and so many are resorting to juggling multiple jobs – or just leaving jobs with paltry hours altogether, according to Snagajob's report, "State of the Hourly Worker 2017."
The Arlington, Vairginia-based online jobsite surveyed more than 2,000 hourly workers and found that 42 percent are not meeting monthly expenses, up from 31 percent in 2016. A majority (73 percent) of respondents want to work at least 40 hours per week, but only 67 percent are able to fulfill those hours. As a result, 74 percent of workers are open to working multiple jobs.
But perhaps most ominously for employers using hourly workers: 89 percent of currently employed workers are actively looking for another job – and nearly half want to leave their primary employer altogether.
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"Don't lose your employees over a few hours," the authors write. "With more options, workers prioritizing full-time positions over part-time and gig work. Look to up your hours if you're looking to attract top talent."
Survey results also show that the majority of job seekers (74 percent) are increasingly turning to mobile devices for their job search, which is up from 72 percent in 2016 and 60 percent in 2014. After submitting a job application, almost half of job seekers (49 percent) expect to hear back from employers within three days. Three quarters (75 percent) of the hourly workforce is communicating with employers and coworkers via messaging channels other than email.
"One of the key takeaways is that while fewer workers are looking for work a growing number want more hours, with the vast majority willing to working multiple jobs to get those hours," says Snagajob's chief executive Peter Harrison. "Now, more than ever, we're seeing a tremendous need for transferable skills that allow workers to mix and match work to get the hours they need to achieve financial security and growth."
Additional findings include:
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The number one benefit workers want employers to offer is health insurance (29 percent). This differs from the March survey when 41 percent of workers said the top benefit they want is paid vacation days.
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Workers are spending less time looking and securing jobs – 74 percent are finding them in three months or less, down from 81 percent in 2016. The majority (87 percent) are spending 30 minutes or less filling out job applications, about the same as 2016 (86 percent).
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The top on-the-job perk workers want employers to offer is a monthly allowance to purchase items (food, clothing, etc.) from their workplace, which is the same as in 2016.
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19 percent of job seekers say that they don't have a preference on the industry in which they work — they just want a job.
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Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
