Nebraskans work through Labor Day, reflecting a trend of multiple jobs

Grand Island, Neb. — Labor day is a federal holiday for millions, but many here in Nebraska are still working on this Monday. Not all of them are bothered by it.

Just cause it’s a holiday, who wants to be sitting home?” asked Pickett. “I don’t want to. This is a fun job. You get to see people happy and laughing and eating food, it’s really a fun job.”

Pickett, like millions of Americans, is working on labor day. Another commonality is that this isn’t Pickett’s only job.

“Just two, I’m here at the fair and I’m also a para with the Grand Island Public School systems. I love that job and dealing with special needs kids.”

Pickett also previously worked at a gym and a retail store at the same time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 8 million Americans work multiple jobs, and the number is growing. While the national average is around 5%, Nebraska has consistently had around 9% of the population work multiple jobs.

“I would wake up in the morning go to school at like 7:30, get out at 3:00, go to the Dollar Tree from like 4:00-9:00. Then I would go to Planet Fitness from 10:00 to 6:00 in the morning and I would start it all over.”

With the cost of living on the rise from inflation, many work multiple jobs to support themselves and their families. Nebraska also has many cases of people holding multiple jobs seasonally for agriculture. Sometimes, it’s a combination of reasons.

“It’s not like I’m doing something strenuous on my body. It’s just communication and making people feel good, and making myself feel good at the same time by putting money in my pocket.”

While the number of people working multiple jobs increases, Pickett is thinking about how to balance opportunities and personal well being.

“You need to move when you can cause when you can’t you can’t get these days back no more. That’s how I think of it.”

Historically, Nebraska has ranked third nationally for most workers with multiple jobs.