Suddenly “polyworking” is the buzzword of the moment, but chances are you’ve been living it for years—simultaneously earning from several roles while orchestrating the nonstop dance of work, family, and everything in between. A surge of media attention—Harper’s Bazaar calls it “Gen-Z’s answer to a fraught job market” —has turned the practice into a headline, but the skill set is anything but new to the Second Shift community.
What is new is the scale. Federal data show that 8.8 million Americans held multiple jobs in April 2025, pushing the multi-jobholder rate up to 5.4 percent overall and 5.8 percent for women. Among millennials, the numbers are even starker: more than half now juggle at least two income streams, with nearly a quarter balancing three jobs and a full third holding four or more. Remote and hybrid schedules have removed the friction of second commutes, turning what used to be an after-hours “side hustle” into a seamless shift between Zoom rooms.
Why the rapid rise? Stubborn 3 percent inflation and plateauing wage gains make a single paycheck feel perilous, while pandemic-era layoffs reminded everyone that “job security” can vanish overnight. Polyworking spreads risk, pads savings, and—when chosen well—creates space for passion projects that a single role can’t fund.
For mid-career women, framing life through the lens of polyworking can feel strangely validating: the world is finally naming the logistical ballet you’ve choreographed for years. It also unlocks language to market your versatility. When you list fractional roles, board seats, and consulting gigs on a résumé, the through-line—leadership, revenue impact, subject-matter depth—becomes the story, not the number of plates you’re spinning. Employers are listening; they’re increasingly hungry for executives who can toggle between strategy sessions, budget dashboards, and creative side ventures without missing a beat.
Perhaps most important, recognizing yourself as a polyworker is a reminder that you’re not alone. The vocabulary may be new, but the community—and the collective expertise—has been here all along, proving that “doing it all” isn’t a burden; it’s a competitive advantage.