January 21, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Multiple jobholders in 2002

In 2002, 5.3 percent of U.S. workers held more than one job; individual State multiple jobholding rates varied considerably.

[Chart data—TXT]

Northern States generally recorded higher rates. All seven States in the West North Central division registered multiple jobholding rates above that of the Nation, with Nebraska and North Dakota recording the highest rates (10.3 and 9.2 percent, respectively). The northernmost States in the Mountain, New England, and Pacific divisions also had relatively high rates. 

In contrast, six of the eight States composing the southern border of the United States had multiple jobholding rates below the U.S. figure. Twelve of the 16 States in the South region and the District of Columbia reported rates below the national figure. The lowest rates were recorded in five States in the South—Louisiana (3.7 percent), Alabama and Georgia (3.8 percent each), and Florida and West Virginia (3.9 percent each). 

In 2002, multiple jobholding rates were lower than a year earlier in 31 States, higher in 13 States and the District of Columbia, and unchanged in 6 States. The largest over-the-year decreases were recorded in Hawaii (-1.6 percentage points), Idaho (-1.1 points), and Rhode Island (-1.0 point). Maryland and Vermont reported the largest increases in multiple jobholding rates (+1.1 percentage points each).

These statistics are prepared by the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program with data from the Current Population Survey. To learn more, see "Regional Trends," Monthly Labor Review, November/December 2003. Multiple jobholders are employed persons who had either two or more jobs as a wage and salary worker, were self-employed and also held a wage and salary job, or worked as an unpaid family worker and also held a wage and salary job. 

 

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