Stacking Jobs And Income 5/21/26

Summary

Your Money Minute – "Stacking Jobs and Income" (May 21, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Your Money Minute," hosted by Jessica Ettinger of CNBC, zooms in on the increasing trend of "income stacking"—where Americans, especially Gen Z, are working more than one job. The discussion provides insight into why this phenomenon is happening, who it affects, and the implications for both workers and employers.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

What Is Income Stacking?

• Definition: Income stacking refers to holding a primary job while simultaneously supplementing one’s earnings through side hustles or freelance work.

Why Income Stacking Is on the Rise

• Economic Pressures:
  • Concerns around inflation and rising prices.
  • Fears of layoffs drive workers to seek additional income streams for financial security.
• Prevalence:
  • Sharon Epperson (00:24): "5% of all American workers are now income stacking."
  • Roughly 8.4 million Americans are currently working multiple jobs.

Worker vs. Employer Perspectives

• Worker’s Perspective:
  • Many feel a single paycheck is no longer sufficient.
  • Steve Liesman (01:11): "So it's like, if you don't want me to work two jobs, show me the money."
• Employer’s Perspective:
  • Some employers attempt to police side gigs, but experts advise openness and flexibility.
  • Sharon Epperson (00:48): "If you're policing them, they're just going to hide it anyway. So better to just say, we're open to it. Just make sure you disclose it."

Generational Trends

• Gen Z is particularly likely to embrace income stacking as part of their work culture, valuing both the flexibility and the financial buffer it provides.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Steve Liesman on the Economics of Income Stacking:

  "A trend called income stacking. It's become popular among Gen Z workers. The question today is, is it a sign of employers hiring more workers or consumers under greater financial stress?"
  (00:14)

• Sharon Epperson on Prevalence and Causes:

  "We're seeing layoff fears driving this trend. We're seeing the inflation concerns about rising prices. And all of that is contributing to income stacking... about 8.4 million people doing that."
  (00:31)

• Advice to Employers:

  "...employers need to understand that people are going to do this. And so if you're policing them, they're just going to hide it anyway. So better to just say, we're open to it. Just make sure you disclose it."
  (00:48)

• Steve Liesman’s Quip:

  "So it's like, if you don't want me to work two jobs, show me the money."
  (01:11)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:06: Steve Liesman introduces the trend of multiple job holding in the U.S.
• 00:14: Liesman explains income stacking and asks whether it's about hiring or financial stress.
• 00:24: Sharon Epperson shares statistics: 5% of American workers (8.4 million) are income stacking.
• 00:31: Discussion of driving factors: layoffs and inflation.
• 00:48: Epperson shares HR experts' advice on employer openness about side gigs.
• 01:11: Liesman's memorable quote about pay versus side jobs.
• 01:14: Ettinger directs listeners to Sharon's full report on CNBC.com.

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Episode Tone and Takeaway

The tone is direct, informative, and lightly conversational, reflecting CNBC's news-driven, solution-oriented style. The episode underscores that income stacking is both a response to economic challenges and a practical choice for many, especially among younger workers. It encourages employers to adapt rather than restrict, mirroring the evolving landscape of work in America.

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For more details and the full report, listeners are encouraged to visit CNBC.com as referenced in the episode.

Transcript

[Jessica Ettinger]

With a CNBC your Money minute, I'm Jessica Ettinger. How many jobs do you have right now?

[Steve Liesman]

Millions of Americans are working more than one job.

[Jessica Ettinger]

CNBC senior economics reporter Steve Liesman with the latest from the U.S. labor Department.

[Steve Liesman]

A trend called income stacking. It's become popular among Gen Z workers. The question today is is it a sign of employers hiring more workers or consumers under greater financial stress?

[Jessica Ettinger]

And CNBC personal finance reporter Sharon Epperson says 5% of all American workers are now income

[Sharon Epperson]

stacking. We're seeing layoff fears driving this trend. We're seeing the inflation concerns about rising prices. And all of that is contributing to income stacking. That is having one primary job but not relying on that single paycheck, adding freelance work or side hustle to that. And we're seeing about 8.4 million people doing that. So what do businesses think of people working full time in one spot and somewhere else part time? The career experts we talked to and the human resource consultants that we talked to said, hey, employers need to understand that people are going to do this. And so if you're policing them, they're just going to hide it anyway. So better to just say, we're open to it. Just make sure you disclose it.

[Steve Liesman]

So it's like, if you don't want me to work two jobs, show me the money.

[Jessica Ettinger]

Exactly. You can see Sharon's Full [e-mail] I'm Jessica Edinger, CNBC.

[Keith Lansford]

This episode is brought to you by Schwab Market Update, an original podcast from Charles Schwab. Join host Keith Lansford for this information packed daily market Preview delivered in 10 minutes or less, including projected stock updates, monetary policy decisions and key results and statistics that may impact your trading. Download the latest episode and [e-mail] Market Update podcast or find Schwab Market Update. Wherever you get your podcasts.