Workers' side jobs contributing to increased burnout
Younger workers are burning out at a noticeably higher rate than workers over age 45.
Workers may say they’re happy with their current jobs, but that doesn’t hold water once they’re asked about their pay. And they’re burning out at a high rate, with plenty of them working side jobs or considering adding a gig to their regular employment.
In fact, according to Skye Learning’s second annual Work Confidence study, 74 percent of American workers experience burnout, with younger workers burning out at a noticeably higher rate than workers over 45. Despite this, not only are a third already working a gig job or a side hustle, but 29 percent say they’re considering joining the gig economy. And almost half of workers say they work between 8 and 12 hours a day.
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Oh, and about that pay: while 74 percent of workers say they’re happy at their current jobs, with 31 percent claiming to be “very happy,” many would jump ship if a higher-paying job comes along. Just 62 percent of workers say they’re happy with their current salaries, and bosses may be alarmed to hear that only 47 percent say they’d stay at their present jobs if they didn’t need the money.
A lot of them do need the money, with 43 percent saying that their “side jobs” bring in half or more of their total income, and even in this so-called “roaring” economy with its low unemployment rate, only 82 percent are confident that they’ll still be employed a year from now—and that’s down from 93 percent last year.
They’re also not confident in the U.S. economy, with only 60 percent saying they’re very or fairly confident the economy will be in good shape a year from now. Last year, 64 percent were confident.
Among workers experiencing burnout, there are plenty of reasons for them to be unhappy: 38 percent report a lack of time for their personal lives, while 26 percent say there’s a lack of opportunity for advancement and 23 percent report a negative workplace environment. In addition, 21 percent say their job expectations are unclear; 14 percent say they have a bad relationship with the boss; 11 percent say they don’t have enough training to do their jobs; 10 percent have bad relationships with coworkers; and 8 percent say they don’t have enough responsibility at work.
“Taken together, these findings suggest that the American workplace is going through a period of turbulence and uncertainty,” says Sandra Slager, president of Skye Learning. “As digital transformation continues to accelerate, it’s increasingly important to build workforce skills that apply in a strong economy, but also ones that can withstand market changes, enhance workers’ satisfaction, and empower people with autonomy in the gig economy.”
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