Income stacking, the practice of juggling multiple jobs, is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, particularly among young women. Research by the UK Women's Budget Group, using HMRC and survey data, found that one in four women aged 16 to 29 have worked more than one job in the past year.
Alexa, 26, was made redundant twice from tech sales. She used savings to pay £1,800 for pilates instructor training, now teaching five days a week alongside her nine-to-five. She topped up her salary by five figures in the first year. Sophie, 26, started stacking three years ago after job losses, earning extra through selling clothes on Vinted, surveys, secret shopping, and market research. She continues despite returning to full-time work, building an emergency fund.
Women in Britain are 50% more likely to be in low-paid work than men, with significant gender pay gaps in high-paying sectors. The cost of living crisis and potential recession, with predictions of 250,000 job losses by mid-2027, drive the trend. ONS data shows a record 1.35 million UK adults working at least two jobs, the highest since records began, with one in six struggling to pay bills.
Some remote workers engage in 'polygamous working', holding two full-time jobs simultaneously. This practice, which emerged during the pandemic, can breach employer codes of conduct. In December last year, a woman was convicted of fraud for working full-time for two councils. Despite risks, influencers promote it as legal and lucrative, with one claiming £200,000 from dual roles.
