Over half of global workforce living paycheck to paycheck, Singapore mirrors trend: ADP Report

03 June, 2025

SINGAPORE, 3 JUNE, 2025 – Despite global employment reaching a record high in 2024, more than half (57%) of workers worldwide are living paycheck to paycheck. Additionally, 23% of workers hold two or more jobs, primarily to cover necessary expenses, according to ADP Research’s People at Work 2025 report. The study, which surveyed nearly 38,000 workers across 34 markets, uncovers stark regional disparities and generational divides in the global workforce’s financial resilience.

Many in Singapore’s workforce are feeling similar levels of financial strain. ADP’s study finds that three out of five (60%) respondents are living paycheck to paycheck in 2024, which is higher than the Asia Pacific’s average of 48%. To bridge the income gap, more than a quarter (26%) of the country’s workers surveyed are holding more than one job.

Jessica Zhang, Senior Vice President of APAC at ADP, said: “Although Singapore’s core inflation rate has stabilised over the past two years, the impact of cost-of-living pressures remains evident. Our findings indicate that many people are earning just enough to meet their needs, with some taking on additional work to manage daily and future expenses. This underscores the reality that economic recovery takes time to translate to tangible relief, and that financial stability continues to be a critical factor shaping workers’ perspective on the future of work.”

Key Findings:

Global strain: Taking on extra work doesn’t necessarily close the pay gap. More than half (54%) of single-job holders, 59% of workers with two jobs, and 61% of workers with three or more jobs are struggling to make ends meet.
Regional hotspot: The country with the highest percentage of workers living paycheck to paycheck is Egypt (84%), followed by Saudi Arabia (79%) and the Philippines (78%). In contrast, South Korea has the lowest percentage, at just 18%. Regionally, the Middle-East Africa Region (70%) has the highest share, with 70% of workers living paycheck to paycheck, followed by Latin America (63%) and North America (58%).
Age divide: Younger workers (<40 years old) are motivated to pursue extra jobs to gain work experience (40%) and nearly a third do it to fund their school or job training. In contrast, only 27% of older workers (>40 years old) do it to gain work experience, while 21% do it to fund their training.

Why workers take multiple jobs

The survey reveals that most workers holding multiple jobs are doing it to cover their necessary expenses, to save for future spending, and to build savings for retirement. The number of workers working more than one job is the highest in the Middle East Africa (34%), Latin America (24%), and Asia Pacific (24%).

While people have different reasons for taking on extra work, holding two or more jobs can be a necessity in parts of the world where average wages are low relative to a country’s cost of living. Informal economies in Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia exacerbate challenges, with workers who piece together gig or part-time roles lacking stability or protection. For example, workers in Singapore who hold three or more jobs do so to cover necessary expenses, and also because they are unable to secure full-time employment and need to support others financially.

Reasons for working multiple jobs

Navigating the high cost of living

“Pay is the foundation of financial well-being for most workers, yet our data shows that even record employment isn't translating into financial security. Nearly two-thirds of people who hold three jobs still struggle to make ends meet. This presents an opportunity for employers to take a more holistic approach to compensation to help workers navigate the higher living costs of today’s global economy,” ADP chief economist Nela Richardson said.

“For small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating on tight margins, salary increases may not always be feasible. However, creative approaches to compensation can still make a meaningful impact. Offering benefits such as health insurance, one-off bonuses, or subsidised childcare can help ease employees’ day-to-day financial pressures. Beyond immediate relief, these measures also strengthen employee loyalty and productivity – laying the foundation for more resilient and committed teams,” added Zhang.

ENDS

About ADP Research

The mission of ADP Research is to make the future of work more productive through data-driven discovery. Companies, workers, and policymakers rely on our finely tuned data and unique perspective to make informed decisions that impact workplaces around the world.

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ADP Media Contact:

Trisha Koh
Archetype Singapore
adphubap@archetype.co

Ying Wang
PR & Brand Voice Manager, ADP APAC
ying.wang@ADP.com