Polywork on the rise: 1 in 10 Argentines have at least two jobs

Polywork, or holding multiple jobs, has been on the rise in Argentina, now affecting one in ten working individuals, according to a recent report. The phenomenon intensified under President Javier Milei's administration, with 10% of the economically active population now juggling multiple roles. The increase in polywork has been linked to global trends such as the gig economy, and a sharp decline in purchasing power under the current administration.

Informality in salaried work has reached a record high of 37.9% for the second quarter of the year, the highest in 18 years. The report, conducted by consulting firm C-P in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung foundation, also noted that women are more likely to be polyworkers, with 56% of polyworkers being women. The majority of polyworkers (81%) have two jobs, with the peak age range being those in their prime working years (35-49).

Polyworkers also work 16% more hours than their single-job counterparts, with 44% of polyworkers being overworked. The report divided polyworkers into "traditional" and "emerging" groups, with the latter group comprising 75% of new moonlighters over the past eight years. The "emerging" group is primarily driven by the fall in purchasing power and the rise of platform work, with more men and younger workers falling into this category.