Many North Dakotans Continue to Work Multiple Jobs

North Dakota continues to have one of the highest multiple job holding rates in the nation. According to the recent Economic Briefs released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University, 9.2 percent of all employed North Dakotans held more than one job. Only Nebraska had a higher rate (10.3 percent). Nationally, 5.3 percent of employees held multiple jobs. The reasons for multiple job holding are varied and include part-time work, low wages, limited benefits and underemployment.

Unique to the Upper Great Plains, the region of the country with the highest concentration of multiple job holders, is its rural nature. Much of the region is dependent on agriculture, an industry with a high concentration of multiple job holders.

In addition, low population density found in rural parts of the region creates a labor supply that fosters multiple job holding. “This is best illustrated in the low unemployment rates found in North Dakota and other northern Great Plains states,” according to Richard Rathge, State Data Center director.

The highest multiple job holding rates continue to be found in the Upper Great Plains states. In contrast, states along the nation’s southern border reported some of the lowest rates. The lowest rates in 2002 were recorded in Louisiana (3.7 percent), Alabama and Georgia (3.8 percent each) and Florida and West Virginia (3.9 percent each). Four additional states had rates of 4.5 percent or lower.

During the past five years, North Dakota’s multiple job holding rate has been steadily declining, down from a peak of 10.8 percent in 1998. Nationally, the multiple job holding rate has declined every year since its peak of 6.4 percent in 1996.

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Source: Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, Richard.Rathge@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu