With the growing pains of inflation and Singapore’s 2% increase in GST (Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, 2023) to negate the problem, Singaporeans are slowly finding other solutions for themselves to deal with the high living expenses of their homeland. Not earning enough from one source, 3.1% of Singaporeans are seeking to be overemployed (Ministry of Manpower, 2023). Though the fruits of their hard-earned labour from two jobs are a-plenty, will this be well for them in the long run?

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With some Singaporeans facing personal issues such as requiring childcare, nursing, or funding for their own studies, to name a few, their main source of income might be insufficient to cover all their bills. That is where overemployment, having more than one job,  has become the new norm.

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Research done by Randstad Singapore in 2021 showcased how 16% of the 3,003 respondents were said to have worked more compared to the previous year (Randstad Singapore, 2021). This aligns with the need to earn more through overtime to make ends meet. In spite of this, people are still seeking out another job. With an increase in working hours, the turnover of money is good. However, this comes with the sacrifice of poor productivity and a decrease in good mental and physical health.

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Singaporean employees average about 45 hours per week of work, according to a study made by The Instant Group in 2022. With their study, they have learned that the number of happy employees comes in at a low 27% (The Instant Group, 2022). This highlights how employees are pushing themselves for the sake of surviving financially. Unfortunately, it does not mean that they are content with this lifestyle.

In the Randstad study, a high percentage of 74% of respondents stated that they value a good work-life balance the most in their career (Randstad Singapore, 2021). In the long run, overworking—be it from one or two jobs—tends to send an individual into burnout, which would make life more difficult to get by. Even though the intention of overemployment is to solve financial burdens one might have, it can backfire when productivity and work quality decrease (Mazza, 2012).

Though I disagree that overemployment should be made illegal, I do think it should be frowned upon and not a recommended solution for employees to take. The costs mentioned above outweigh the benefits in this scenario.