California experienced a decrease in the percentage of state residents holding multiple jobs between 2008 and 2009 and ranked ninth lowest overall, according to a monthly report released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The regional trends outlined in the bureau’s July “Monthly Labor Review” report indicate that 18 states and the national capital saw increases in the number of people working more than one job.
California was among 26 states that recorded decreases for 2009, and ranked 42nd overall with 4.4 percent of workers juggling multiple jobs, compared to 4.5 percent in 2008.
The national average for 2009 was 5.2 percent. That national figure peaked in 1996 at 6.2 percent.
Multiple jobholders are defined by the federal bureau as those who work two or more jobs, are self-employed and also hold a wage or salary job, or unpaid family workers who also hold a wage or salary job.
South Dakota, at 10.3 percent, had the largest percentage of multiple jobholders, followed by North Dakota, at 9.8 percent, according to the report.
Northern states generally had higher rates than southern states and most of the states that have high multiple jobholding rates in 2009 have consistently had high rates since the estimates have been recorded, the report said.
