Why Stagnant Wages and Job Insecurity Are Forcing Americans Into Side Hustles

Americans are working harder than ever, but for many, their paychecks aren’t keeping up. As inflation runs rampant and wages remain stagnant, workers nationwide are stepping outside traditional job roles to secure their livelihoods. They’re juggling side gigs, multiple part-time jobs, or “polyworking” just to make ends meet while bracing for uncertain futures. Is This the New Normal for American Workers? Take the story of Katelyn Cusick, a 29-year-old visual merchandiser whose full-time job doesn’t cover soaring living costs or mounting student loans. Like millions of her fellow citizens, she has had to cobble together income from several sources—managing social...