Germany's middle class now needs multiple jobs just to survive
Rising living costs and stagnant wages have forced many Germans into a harsh reality: one job is no longer enough. Over the past decade, rents have nearly doubled, with Berlin alone seeing a 69 percent increase. For some, juggling multiple jobs has become the only way to make ends meet—even among the middle class. A recent 2025 survey by Academized found that one in two people aged 26 to 41 now holds at least one side job. This trend, known as polyworking, has surged as full-time salaries fail to cover basic expenses. Many of these positions pay so little that pensions remain inadequate, leaving workers with little financial security.
The shift is clear in job listings too. Since 2020, part-time roles have jumped by nearly 69 percent, especially in major cities. Economic uncertainty and frequent layoffs have made fixed-term contracts more common, adding to the instability. One Berlin-based editor, who has spent the last year working two part-time editorial jobs—sometimes with freelance projects on top—described how a single part-time wage barely covered their rent. A full-time position in the same field would have left them struggling just as much. Now, a 50 to 60-hour workweek has become the norm for many. Sleep deprivation and exhaustion follow, yet the alternative—cutting back—is simply unaffordable. For this editor, both jobs are fixed-term, reflecting a broader pattern where precarious contracts dominate the market. What was once a survival tactic for low-income workers has spread firmly into the middle class, driven by a capitalist system that demands constant performance without fair compensation.
Polyworking is no longer a choice but a necessity for thousands across Germany. With rents soaring and wages stagnating, even skilled professionals now rely on multiple jobs to afford basic living costs. Without structural changes, this precarious balancing act will likely remain the norm for years to come.
