On the evolution of multiple jobholding in Canada

Abstract

In Canada, the fraction of workers holding multiple jobs has almost tripled since the mid-1970s. In this paper, we document this historical change and provide a comprehensive account of its dynamics. We use restricted-access panel micro-data from the Canadian labour force survey to construct transition probabilities in and out of multiple jobholding. We analyze these data through the lens of a trend decomposition that separates out the role of worker inflows and outflows. The upward trend in multiple jobholding is explained chiefly by the increased likelihood of single jobholders to pick up second jobs. While economic reasons remain important, a more flexible hours schedule of the main job adds to the factors that push workers towards multiple jobholding.Résumé. Sur l'évolution du cumul d'emploi au Canada. Au Canada, la fraction de travailleurs qui occupent simultanément plusieurs emplois a presque triplé depuis le milieu des années 1970. Cet article fait état de ce changement historique et présente une description complète de ses dynamiques. Nous utilisons les microdonnées du panel à accès limité de l'Enquête sur la population active du Canada afin d'établir des probabilités de transition vers l'acceptation et l'arrêt d'un deuxième emploi. Nous analysons ces probabilités à travers le prisme d'une décomposition de la tendance qui sépare le rôle des entrées dans le cumul d'emploi et des sorties hors de celui-ci. La tendance ascendante en matière d'emplois simultanés s'explique surtout par la probabilité accrue que des travailleurs qui occupent un seul emploi en acceptent un deuxième. Bien que les raisons économiques demeurent importantes parmi les motifs qui poussent les travailleurs à occuper simultanément plusieurs postes, l'horaire de travail plus flexible du premier emploi explique pourquoi l'entrée dans un deuxième emploi est devenu plus fréquente.

Desired work-leisure balance in a partial equilibrium job search model with multiple job holding

“…Average working hours for single job spells are 36.6 per week, while that for multiple job spells are 62.1 per week. It is consistent with the findings ofKostyshyna and Lalé (2022), as they found that two-thirds of the multiple job spells are used to increase working hours. Average employment duration for single job spells (106 weeks) is longer than multiple job spells (34 weeks), suggesting that multiple job holdings are short-term in nature.…”

“…As an example, people hold the second job to obtain nonpencuniary benefits unprovided by the first job (e.g., enjoyment or insurance against unemployment risks). Kostyshyna and Lalé (2022) found that there was an increasing trend of multiple job holdings, two-thirds of which were caused by hours constraints and one-third were caused by nonpencuniary benefits. Models considering both reasons for multiple job holdings were discussed in Oaxaca and Renna (2006) and Hlouskova et al (2017).…”