Cover for the February 2026 Wage to Wallet Index. The newest Wage to Wallet Index explores how side work affects financial management for Labor Economy workers navigating economic challenges.

Side Work Surges as 22.7% of Hourly Workers Face Sudden Income Stops

Wage to Wallet™ Index: Side Work Patterns in the Labor Economy

Job security may be improving, but for millions of hourly workers, financial confidence is not. Side work is no longer a side story; it is becoming a core survival strategy in a labor market where essential income can disappear overnight. New data in the February 2026 “Wage to Wallet Index: Side Work Patterns in the Labor Economy,” a collaboration between PYMNTS Intelligence, WorkWhile and Ingo Payments, reveals a widening divide that companies can no longer afford to ignore.

Inside the February Index

  • Even as perceptions of job stability improve, many Labor Economy workers still feel financially strained as rising costs and uneven cash flows limit their sense of progress.
  • Nearly one in five hourly workers report  regular side work, often juggling multiple gigs. For many, that income is used to cover essentials, not build savings.
  • Labor Economy workers are significantly more likely to experience sudden income stops. Payment speed and reliability are emerging as critical tools for financial resilience.

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