Surge in numbers of people in the UK with multiple jobs

The pandemic has driven more interest in, and take up of, a portfolio career where someone has more than one job. New research from the Department for Education has found 37% more people hold multiple roles now compared to before the pandemic.  And a quarter of workers (26%) aged 35-64 would now consider this approach to their career.

The research comes as the Department for Education launches a new campaign and calls for even more professionals to share their valuable skills through taking up a further education teaching job alongside their current role, helping change lives without changing career.

The top factors that appealed to employed adults about portfolio careers included the variety of the work (38%), the opportunity to expand your skill set (32%) and the chance to work in different settings (29%).

The sectors in top demand for teaching are Construction, Engineering, Manufacturing, Legal, Finance, Accounting and Digital/IT and Health and Social Care, Industry professionals looking to take up a portfolio career can teach their trade, skill or subject in a wide range of further education settings without the need for a specific qualification. Further education is primarily for learners aged 16+ and includes study that takes place after secondary school, for example in colleges or with training providers, but outside of a higher education institution.

Ros spoke to teacher Amy Barr.