![[Global] 57% of world’s workforce lives paycheque to paycheque](http://gpa.net/cdn/shop/articles/bigstock-American-African-Holding-Paych-373379692_2_5d649f19-3604-4617-a34b-8fd279c8ac47_1200x.jpg?v=1750888000)
Global employment hit a record high in 2024, yet new research has revealed that more than half (57 per cent) of workers worldwide are living paycheque to paycheque, Business News This Week reports.
In addition, 23 per cent of workers hold two or more jobs, primarily to cover necessary expenses, ADP Research’s People at Work 2025 report found. The study surveyed nearly 38,000 workers across 34 markets. It discovered stark regional disparities and generational divides in the global workforce’s financial resilience.
According to the report’s key findings, taking on extra work doesn’t necessarily close the pay gap. ADP found that more than half (54 per cent) of single-job holders, 59 per cent of workers with two jobs, and 61 per cent of workers with three or more jobs are struggling to make ends meet.
The country with the highest percentage of workers living paycheque to paycheque is reportedly Egypt (84 per cent), followed by Saudi Arabia (79 per cent) and the Philippines (78 per cent). South Korea, by contract, has the lowest percentage at just 18 per cent. Regionally, the Middle-East Africa Region (70 per cent) has the highest share, with 70 per cent of workers living paycheque to paycheque, followed by Latin America (63 per cent) and North America (58 per cent).
Younger workers ( under 40 years old) were found to be more motivated to seek extra jobs to gain work experience (40 per cent) with nearly a third doing so to fund their school or job training. In contrast, only 27 per cent of older workers (over 40 years) do this to gain work experience, while just 21 per cent do it to fund their training.
The survey revealed that the majority of workers holding multiple jobs are doing so to cover their necessary expenses, to save for future spending, and to build savings for retirement. The number of workers working more than one job is the highest in the Middle East Africa (34 per cent), Latin America (24 per cent), and Asia Pacific (24 per cent).
People have different motivations for taking on extra work, however, holding two or more jobs can be a necessity in parts of the world where average wages are low relative to a country’s cost of living. Informal economies in Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia reportedly exacerbate challenges, with workers who have to piece together gig or part-time roles lacking stability or protection.
Nela Richardson - ADP chief economist - said, “Pay is the foundation of financial wellbeing for most workers, yet our data shows that even record employment isn’t translating into financial security. Nearly two-thirds of people who hold three jobs still struggle to make ends meet. This presents an opportunity for employers to take a more holistic approach to compensation to help workers navigate the higher living costs of today’s global economy.”
Source: Business News This Week
(Quote via original reporting)
Global employment hit a record high in 2024, yet new research has revealed that more than half (57 per cent) of workers worldwide are living paycheque to paycheque, Business News This Week reports.
In addition, 23 per cent of workers hold two or more jobs, primarily to cover necessary expenses, ADP Research’s People at Work 2025 report found. The study surveyed nearly 38,000 workers across 34 markets. It discovered stark regional disparities and generational divides in the global workforce’s financial resilience.
According to the report’s key findings, taking on extra work doesn’t necessarily close the pay gap. ADP found that more than half (54 per cent) of single-job holders, 59 per cent of workers with two jobs, and 61 per cent of workers with three or more jobs are struggling to make ends meet.
The country with the highest percentage of workers living paycheque to paycheque is reportedly Egypt (84 per cent), followed by Saudi Arabia (79 per cent) and the Philippines (78 per cent). South Korea, by contract, has the lowest percentage at just 18 per cent. Regionally, the Middle-East Africa Region (70 per cent) has the highest share, with 70 per cent of workers living paycheque to paycheque, followed by Latin America (63 per cent) and North America (58 per cent).
Younger workers ( under 40 years old) were found to be more motivated to seek extra jobs to gain work experience (40 per cent) with nearly a third doing so to fund their school or job training. In contrast, only 27 per cent of older workers (over 40 years) do this to gain work experience, while just 21 per cent do it to fund their training.
The survey revealed that the majority of workers holding multiple jobs are doing so to cover their necessary expenses, to save for future spending, and to build savings for retirement. The number of workers working more than one job is the highest in the Middle East Africa (34 per cent), Latin America (24 per cent), and Asia Pacific (24 per cent).
People have different motivations for taking on extra work, however, holding two or more jobs can be a necessity in parts of the world where average wages are low relative to a country’s cost of living. Informal economies in Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia reportedly exacerbate challenges, with workers who have to piece together gig or part-time roles lacking stability or protection.
Nela Richardson - ADP chief economist - said, “Pay is the foundation of financial wellbeing for most workers, yet our data shows that even record employment isn’t translating into financial security. Nearly two-thirds of people who hold three jobs still struggle to make ends meet. This presents an opportunity for employers to take a more holistic approach to compensation to help workers navigate the higher living costs of today’s global economy.”
Source: Business News This Week
(Quote via original reporting)