Part-time the most commonly searched term on Seek in 2018

The rising cost of living and casualisation of the workforce is forcing Aussies to take on a second job to make ends meet, which makes this year’s most searched term on Seek not surprising.

The rising cost of living and casualisation of the workforce is forcing Aussies to take on a second job to make ends meet.

“Part-time” was the most searched term on job site Seek this year, up from the number three spot in 2017, but social analyst David Chalke said many of these jobseekers wanted more work hours, not less.

“Discretionary incomes in Australia are under huge pressure at the moment because wages have remained stagnant and costs in the household have gone through the roof — power, water, petrol, council rates,” the Strategy Planning Group principal said.

Part-time was the most searched term on Seek in 2018. Picture: istock

“The household budget is escalating so people are raiding their savings … and getting concerned about money.

“This is not people going from full-time to part-time.

“They have got one part-time job and are looking for a second.

“If you have got a full-time job, you will hang on to it, but you may be looking to get a second part-time job to cover the cost of electricity bills and fuel.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed this week there were 39,500 more jobs in the Australian economy in the September quarter than in the June quarter, and almost half of these (15,900) were filled by people who already had at least one other job.

Almost two-thirds of these “secondary” jobs were in the administrative and support services sector and accommodation and food services sector.

The rising cost of living is pushing Aussies into a second job. Picture: istock

ABS chief economist Bruce Hockman said many secondary jobs were also in healthcare and social assistance as 24-hour rosters afforded flexibility.

“That’s an industry where people find they have a day job in one hospital and a weekend job at another hospital or something like that,” he said.

Mr Hockman said the casualisation of work meant it was becoming more common for workers to combine two or more casual or part-time jobs for the equivalent of a full-time income.

“They may be underemployed in their main job so looking for extra hours,” he said.

“About six to seven per cent of all jobs are secondary jobs (and) typically it’s two part-time jobs.”

After “part time”, the most-searched terms on SEEK in 2018 were manager, project manager, graduate, administration, work from home, casual, retail, electrician, and sales.

Read more employment news in the Careers section on Saturday.