![\"Mat](\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/f983ea4f-6fad-4210-a844-926fd1c882f1/-/crop/2170x2170/0,0/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\"){kind=avatar}
\n Mat Beeche\n Global Strategic Communications Director, Deputy\n \n
\nLondon, UK. 7 April 2026 - According to new research from Deputy, Gen Z is driving record poly-employment levels across the UK, accounting for more than two-thirds (67%) of employees working more than one job. The figures, building on recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reveal all-time high UK poly-employment rates of 1.35 million people, delivering a major indicator of the growing financial strain on younger workers.
The data is drawn from Deputy’s Big Shift 2026 report, which analyses workforce trends from 20mn+ shifts and 159 million hours worked by 300,000+ shift workers across retail, hospitality, care and services industries. With workers increasingly seeking multiple sources to stabilise income, Deputy’s data shows a marked rise in microshifts - short shifts typically between one and four hours - to boost earnings and maintain flexibility as workers navigate unpredictable labour conditions.
Ciaran Hale, Chief Technology Officer at Deputy, said: “Our findings challenge the idea that side-hustle culture is simply a lifestyle choice for younger workers. What we’re seeing is a fundamental shift. For many, taking on multiple roles is now as much a financial necessity as it is a preference - sending a clear signal that traditional employment alone is no longer enough to meet the financial demands of a growing share of the workforce.”
The geographical data highlights a widening divide in how different regions are responding to the economic strain. Wales (27%) and the East of England (26.7%) led the country with the most significant growth in poly-employment, reinforcing the heightened reliance on secondary incomes in these areas.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland (20.1%), London (13.7%), and the North East (10.2%) saw the sharpest declines in multiple jobholding. Interestingly, London’s downturn was largely influenced by a 25% year-on-year drop in participation among women, whereas the Welsh surge was predominantly driven by men, who saw a 50% increase in taking on extra roles.
The report also highlights a growing divide in how workers experience both employment and technology. Many are combining shorter shifts across multiple roles to manage income and flexibility, yet attitudes towards AI vary sharply. Workers in more secure full-time positions show greater openness, with only 37% expressing resistance to AI adoption.
Among those balancing multiple part-time roles, resistance rises to 63%, reflecting concern over job security. While 55% of workers believe AI could replace aspects of their role, only 9% report experiencing job losses linked to the technology, pointing to a widening gap between perception and lived experience.
The record growth of poly-employment amongst Gen Z is framed by a sobering broader economy. While ONS figures indicate a significant slowdown in wage growth through to January, the youth labour market has been hit hardest. Unemployment among 18–24-year-olds has reached its highest point since 2015, leaving almost 600,000 young people searching for work.
For those already in the workforce, the combination of stagnant pay and high unemployment elsewhere makes the security of a single traditional job feel increasingly out of reach, necessitating the move toward multiple income streams.
Click below to download this year's report:
\n \n \nThe Big Shift Report 2026 was produced by the leading scheduling software platform, Deputy, utilising aggregated Deputy customer data. The report features an industry-focused data analysis of UK shift workers across the hospitality, retail, healthcare and services industry sectors. Chief Economist at Geografia, Dr Shashi Karunanethy, analysed 20,522,440 shifts and 159,936,175 hours of 304,821 shift workers to produce the insights in this report.
Deputy is the intuitive, people platform built specifically for shift work. Trusted by over 1.5 million shift workers and 380,000 workplaces in more than 100 countries, Deputy empowers managers to plan, adapt, and grow their businesses effectively, while giving teams greater control over their time and schedules.
With AI-powered tools for effortless hiring, onboarding, forecasting, time tracking, compliance, and mobile-first communication, Deputy keeps every shift running smoothly, all in one platform. Discover how we’re improving the world of work, one shift at a time, at www.deputy.com and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates and insights.