The squeeze is real. Across the U.S., a growing wave of workers are juggling multiple gigs—not out of ambition, but necessity. Inflation keeps chipping away at purchasing power while paychecks stay frozen in place. What used to be side hustles are now lifelines. Whether it's freelancing after hours, weekend gigs, or monetizing skills online, polyworking has shifted from trend to survival tactic. The labor market might look robust on paper, yet for many households, one income stream just doesn't cut it anymore. Economic pressure is reshaping how people earn, and the shift feels permanent.