In 2005, North Dakota tied with Wyoming for the highest multiple job holding rates in the nation, with 9.9 percent of employed residents in each of these states working more than one job.

This month’s “Economic Brief,” a monthly publication from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University, focuses on individual state multiple job holding rates as released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The reasons for holding multiple jobs are varied and include part-time work, low wages, limited benefits, underemployment and seasonal work, such as agricultural employment.

“The issue of multiple job holding is more than an economic concern,” says Richard Rathge, State Data Center director. “When folks have to work several jobs, it reduces the amount of time they can spend with family, their ability to volunteer and their opportunity to relax and enjoy life.”

In 2005, states in the upper Great Plains (North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Montana and Utah), along with Alaska and Vermont, all had multiple job holding rates of more than 8 percent. Nationally, 5.3 percent of employees held multiple jobs.

While the highest multiple job holding rates continue to be found in the upper Great Plains, many states along the nation’s southern border reported some of the lowest rates. In 2005, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama and Florida had multiple job holding rates of less than 4.5 percent. However, the lowest rates in 2005 were recorded in Nevada and West Virginia (3.8 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively).

NDSU Agriculture Communication