Working more to earn more: can you combine jobs?

In a tense economic climate, where inflation is eroding purchasing power (2.2% in March 2025), many French people are considering holding several jobs at once to make ends meet. This is not a new phenomenon, but it is becoming more widespread. But is this strategy really possible, and under what conditions? Here's an overview of a rapidly expanding practice, between opportunities and legal limits.

Double-jobbing: an economic reality that encourages multiple jobholding

According to the latestInsee estimates, by the end of 2021, some 7.7% of the French workforce will be simultaneously engaged in several professional activities. This may involve two salaried activities, but also the creation of a business or a self-employed activity.

This phenomenon mainly affects young people, the self-employed and part-time employees. Working more to earn more is no longer just a political slogan: it's a necessity for some households. Faced with stagnating incomes and rising expenses, multiplying professional activities appears to be a pragmatic solution. And the development of telecommuting, the platform economy and "side projects" is making this trend much easier, since there's nothing to stop you from holding down several jobs... albeit with a few rules to observe.

Combining jobs: a legal framework that's regulated but open-ended

In France, there is nothing to prevent an employee from holding several jobs, provided he or she complies with a certain number of rules laid down in the Labor Code. In particular, maximum working hours are strictly defined: they may not exceed 48 hours a week, nor 10 hours a day. Added to this are possible restrictions written into the employment contract, such as an exclusivity clause or the obligation of loyalty to the main employer.

Specific statuses, such as micro-entrepreneur, also enable employees to set up their own business while keeping their job.

Advantages to be weighed up... and risks to be assessed

Combining jobs can mean financial freedom, diversification of skills and even a springboard to entrepreneurship. For some, it's also a way of finding fulfillment in a variety of activities.

Working from a coworking space or flexible workspace can offer significant logistical and psychological support for employees seeking to combine jobs. Designed with flexibility and productivity in mind, these spaces enable employees to compartmentalize their activities, surround themselves with other professionals and break the isolation often associated with multi-activity working. They generally offer high-quality infrastructures (high-speed connections, meeting rooms, quiet areas) that encourage better management of time and tasks.

What's more, coworking stimulates informal encounters and can lead to unprecedented professional opportunities. For those juggling several assignments, it's a structuring, inspiring and less solitary environment than home-based telecommuting. A solution that can foster organization, concentration and even opportunities for collaboration or new contracts.

But beware of burnout. Working 60 hours a week for several months exposes you to an increased risk of burn-out, health problems and difficulties in reconciling professional and personal life. Cumulative working can also undermine the quality of work, and even lead to sanctions if legal obligations are not respected.

While it is perfectly possible to hold several jobs at the same time in France, this strategy, while a welcome boost, needs to be carefully thought through. Before taking the plunge, it's essential to know your rights, assess your work capacity and, above all, preserve your personal balance.

Working more to earn more remains an option. But it's important to make sure that you don't pay a high price for it.