Differences in time use and activity patterns when adding a second job: implications for health and safety in the United States.

Objectives: We compared work and lifestyle activities for workers who work in 1 job with those who work in multiple jobs during a 1-week period.

Methods: We used information from the 2003-2011 American Time Use Survey to classify workers into 6 work groups based on whether they were a single (SJH) or multiple (MJH) job holder and whether they worked their primary, other, multiple, or no job on the diary day.

Results: The MJHs often worked 2 part-time jobs (20%), long weekly hours (27% worked 60+ hours), and on weekends. The MJHs working multiple jobs on the diary day averaged more than 2 additional work hours (2.25 weekday, 2.75 weekend day; P < .05), odd hours (more often between 5 pm and 7 am), with more work travel time (10 minutes weekday, 9 minutes weekend day; P < .05) and less sleep (-45 minutes weekday, -62 minutes weekend day; P < .05) and time for other household (P < .05) and leisure (P < .05) activities than SJHs.

Conclusions: Because of long work hours, long daily commutes, multiple shifts, and less sleep and leisure time, MJHs may be at heightened risk of fatigue and injury.