The Multi-Job Trap: Why 7 Out of 10 Workers Are Burning Out

According to MyPerfectResume’s 2025 research, a striking 71% of American workers now depend on secondary income sources just to cover basic living expenses. The culprit? Stagnant salary growth failing to match inflation rates, combined with weakening job market conditions over recent months. This trend has fueled what many call the “hustle culture” phenomenon—where employees squeeze in extra work while employers expect more output for the same paycheck.

The Performance Paradox

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: juggling multiple income streams doesn’t scale. Jasmine Escalera, a career strategist at MyPerfectResume, reveals that nearly half of surveyed workers (49%) openly acknowledge that their secondary income work sabotages focus and performance at their primary job. Being stretched too thin inevitably leads to underperformance, which can trigger consequences ranging from stalled raises to job termination.

Career Advancement Gets Stuck

What sounds like productivity actually creates a vicious cycle. When employers perceive reduced commitment, promotions slow down and base salaries freeze. Your side hustle suffers the same fate—earnings plateau because you lack bandwidth to grow it. As EduBirdie’s chief HR officer Avery Morgan explains, workers end up working harder without advancing, trapped in a career limbo.

The Health Crisis Nobody Talks About

The physical toll is real and measurable. Over 21% of respondents in the MyPerfectResume study reported noticeable declines in their physical health after launching a side hustle. When sleep deprivation, skipped workouts, and fast food replace rest and self-care, your body inevitably pays the price.

Stress, Burnout, and Mental Decline

Operating two jobs simultaneously creates a perfect storm for mental health deterioration. Sam DeMase from ZipRecruiter points out that layering a side hustle onto full-time work amplifies stress, frustration, motivation loss, and severe burnout. This psychological strain doesn’t exist in isolation—it cascades into weakened relationships and diminished overall life satisfaction.

Relationships Become Collateral Damage

Time is finite, and relationships demand investment. When work consumes your calendar, family and friendships move to the background. While parents might believe short-term sacrifices won’t matter, the reality often hits hard months or years later when their children have grown emotionally distant or marriages have quietly deteriorated. The damage, once done, takes years to repair—if it can be repaired at all.

The Real Question

Side hustles can offer genuine financial relief and creative satisfaction. Yet they always extract payment—sometimes measured in health, career momentum, or the people closest to you. Before diving into the hustle lifestyle, weigh whether the extra income truly justifies the hidden costs multiplying in the background.