Multiple Jobholding and Earnings Differences Among Direct Care Workers

Abstract

While the aging population increasingly relies on direct care workers—personal care aides, home health aides, and nursing assistants—insufficient income drives many of these workers to acquire second jobs. Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), we evaluate the earnings gap between direct care workers who do and do not hold second jobs and how it varies depending on the type of second job. On average, direct care workers with secondary employment work more hours and earn higher total income than those who hold just one job. However, after adjusting for total hours worked, multiple jobholding direct care workers earn 16% less than their single-jobholder counterparts. This earnings gap is larger among those who work two direct care positions than workers who combine a direct care job with an outside occupation.