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Are women patching together work to survive the cost of living?

ended 22. April 2026

The latest labour market data highlights a clear divide in how men and women are working in the UK.

More than 6.2 million women are working part-time, compared to 2.5 million men. Women are also more likely to be juggling more than one job, with 697,000 women holding second jobs versus 575,000 men.

On paper, that might look like flexibility.

In reality, for many small businesses and their teams, it tells a different story.

This is often about making life work. Balancing childcare, caring responsibilities, and rising living costs, all while trying to keep income steady. Part-time work can offer flexibility, but it can also mean lower earnings and the need to take on extra work just to keep things ticking over.

So what does this look like in your business?

  • Are more women asking for part-time hours because full-time work simply is not workable?
  • Are you seeing employees take on second jobs just to cover basic living costs?
  • Has childcare or caring responsibility become a key reason people are reducing hours?
  • Are flexible working requests increasing as people try to make stretched pay go further?
  • Do part-time roles in your business offer real financial security, or are people needing additional income on top?
  • Is the so-called side hustle now less about choice and more about survival?

We would love to hear what you are seeing in your workforce, and whether this shift feels like flexibility in action or a sign that the numbers are no longer adding up for many employees.

4 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Kate Underwood
Founder & Chief People Strategist at Kate Underwood HR and Training
Short answer… yes. And it’s not a lifestyle choice, it’s a logistics exercise. For many women, part-time work isn’t about balance anymore; it’s about survival maths. What I’m seeing is women doing the maths on childcare, commuting, and household costs and realising full-time work just doesn’t stack up anymore. So they reduce hours, not because they want to, but because it’s the only way to make everything fit without burning out. The knock-on is that part-time often isn’t enough financially, so they layer in a second job, freelance work, or something flexible on the side.
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Antonia Medlicott
Founder & MD at Investing Insiders
There are many financial admin problems that arise from women working part-time, such as if they are working two jobs but neither pays £10,000, it won’t trigger auto enrolment into a pension, as well as emergency tax codes and incorrect PAYE deductions, putting stress on someone who is merely trying to survive and provide for their family.

Often overlooked for women is the gender pension gap. Part-time work means fewer hours and lower contributions made to pension pots. The compounding impact over decades has a significant knock-on effect and means their pots will be much smaller in retirement. Data shows that the gender pension gap is currently around double that of the gender pay gap. Women who work fewer hours need to take action to protect their future, by maximising voluntary contributions where possible, checking if salary sacrifice is available in their workplace, and also ensuring they are getting national insurance contributions so they receive the full state pension.
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Rachel Beech
Founder & CEO at Fetching
It’s frustrating to see that so many established businesses are still not offering the kind of flexibility that parents actually need. Rightly or wrongly, mothers still end up doing the majority of childcare, and that can be challenging for women trying to build their career. It's no wonder so many women are piecing together part-time hours or second jobs just to facilitate flexibility whilst maintaining sufficient income. All parents want to be there for their kids, but we're all in the same boat when it comes to the juggle. The old adage about it taking a village to raise a child has never been more true, yet people often don't like to ask for help. In reality, parents need the ability to mobilise their support network. Using community-led tools such as Fetching for the school run means mothers can achieve the balance they need, and stop having to choose between being present for their children and financial stability.
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Legend
Jenny Blyth
Small business owner at Storm in a Teacup Gifts
Taking on multiple roles isn’t a choice any longer, it’s a way of life.
I’ve been self employed for over 11 years and in the past 3 of those I’ve had to take on several additional roles to help support the cost of living.
Last year I became pregnant after a 4 year fertility journey to become a solo mum by choice. Now more than ever I am relying on these ‘side hustles’ to provide for me and my baby.
There is a certain flexibility that comes with these roles which are great and as a result of them I will be able to stay home with my baby during those first precious years. What annoys me most is that it has become such a necessity. My gift business allowed me self sufficiency but after the pandemic and the subsequent cost of living crisis not to mention the ever changing government scenarios I was left with no choice. I couldn’t give up my business for the sake of circumstances beyond my control so I took back control and made my decision to take on additional work.