The Role of Perceived Job Insecurity in Predicting Multiple Jobholding

Abstract

Perceived job insecurity is often viewed as a work stressor that impacts cognitive, affective, and behavioral reactions on the job. Encouraged by the shift toward greater flexibility and gig work in modern times, individuals may decide to pursue multiple jobholding, i.e., start side jobs alongside a primary employed or self-employed position, to diversify risk and acquire additional resources to deal with perceived job insecurity. While acknowledging these benefits, this paper further argues that the resources provided to job insecure individuals by multiple jobholding, such as greater financial security, come at the expense of other resources, such as the investment of effort and time. Thereby, drawing from conservation of resources theory and relying on longitudinal data about 3,117 job spells for 807 unique German individuals from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we develop and test competing hypotheses about the relationship between individuals’ perceptions of job insecurity and the decision to take on multiple jobs. Results from survival analyses indicate that higher levels of perceived job insecurity reduce the probability of taking on secondary jobs. These findings advance existing research on job insecurity and multiple jobholding and in the growing fields of sustainable careers and career inaction while informing a broad audience, including individuals, organizations, and policymakers.