Remote workers in the United States are taking advantage of the time saved by not traveling to increase their income through side activities, according to data released by , based on a survey by LinkedIn Workforce Confidence. The survey, which included 8,600 North American professionals, revealed that 34% of remote workers have secondary jobs, compared to 29% of in-person workers.
The tendency to seek additional income is more evident among freelancers and independent workers. According to the study, while only 25% of full-time professionals have side jobs, the percentage rises to 52% among freelancers and 46% among external workers.
The most common odd jobs include consulting, driving for ride-hailing platforms like Uber, creating content for sale on platforms like Etsy, and property management.
Time savings and greater flexibility as an engine
The absence of daily commutes seems to be a determining factor. Data from traffic analysis company INRIX shows that long-distance trips of more than 120 kilometers have increased in the US, as have trips of more than 64 kilometers to the country’s 10 largest cities. For remote workers, the time savings allow for greater flexibility to explore new sources of income.
Studies present divergent conclusions about the impact of remote work on productivity. A May 2024 Great Place to Work survey of 4,400 employees revealed that workers with the freedom to choose their workplace performed better and had better relationships with their managers. In contrast, Stanford economists observed 10% lower productivity when working remotely compared to in-person.
Some remote workers even report that they secretly juggle multiple roles to maximize income. This practice, known as “overemployment”, is gaining ground, despite the growing competitiveness in remote work offers.
The search for parallel activities reflects an adaptation to changes in work dynamics and taking advantage of the flexibility that remote work provides.
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