Half of all workers feel underpaid – survey

SOUTH African professionals are turning to ‘side hustles’ amid a rising cost of living and low-paying day jobs.

Research reveals that 45% of the country’s professionals feel underpaid for the role they do, while 18% have resorted to ‘other means’ of additional income for the first time.

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This includes the use of credit cards, payday loans, and additional work.
This has necessitated a call for employers to be supportive of side hustles, which are fast becoming a ‘necessary evil’.

A quota of professionals has stated that they are ‘actively seeking’ additional work as primary forms of employment fall short on pay, progression, and purpose.

According to research by global recruiter Robert Walters, 48% of professional workers in South Africa do not feel they accurately represent the work they do.

This comes off the back of some of the highest consumer inflation rates the world over.

Megan Prosser, senior manager at Robert Walters South Africa, is of the view that it is not surprising that professionals are beginning to feel that their pay is not stretching as far as it used to, given that the price of essential goods is rising across the world.

“In some respects, employers feel their hands are tied; it is not realistic for companies to try and compete with the rate of inflation, especially in what is an unpredictable market,” said Prosser.

“We have seen a significant rise in professionals taking on side hustles as a way of arming against increased costs and a looming recession; evolving what was once a passion into pay.

“Historically, side jobs have been considered something of a distraction by employers, however, additional jobs can also be a great way of developing new skills, which could benefit the primary employer.

“The crucial advice here for employers is to listen and play an active role in alleviating some of the external pressures on their employees.

If this can’t be done via a pay increase, it can be achieved by encouraging resourcefulness in an economically strenuous time,” added Walters.

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