A permanent contract from nine to five no longer tells the whole story for a growing number of Belgian workers. Increasingly, people are pairing salaried employment with freelance projects, flexi-jobs, or passion-driven side ventures – not out of necessity, but by design. In 2024, roughly 279,000 Belgians, about 5.5% of the working population, held a second job. Among those aged 25 to 49, the figure climbs to 6%. This deliberate juggling of professional roles even has a name: polyworking.
But polyworking is not simply about earning more. It reflects a deeper shift in how people define meaningful work, career ownership, and professional identity. So what’s driving the trend, what are the real risks involved, and how can you approach it sustainably?
The real reasons people choose polyworking
Several motives spur people to start polyworking. Money naturally plays a role, especially as the cost of living climbs. Antwerp Management School’s own research in 2022 showed that financial security remains the key measure of career success for many Belgian and Dutch workers. Yet it is not just about extra earnings. Increasingly, people want their work to feel meaningful while still growing personally. Polyworking allows room to focus on passions or purposeful work – also called subjective career success – such as social engagement, creativity, or entrepreneurship.
Employees are also seeking greater control over their careers. Research from Antwerp Management School (2020) revealed that more than half (55%) of respondents reflected more consciously on their career during the pandemic, and two in three felt competent to steer it themselves. Polyworking aligns well with that quest for more autonomy and flexibility, without entirely abandoning the security of stability.
The upsides and pitfalls you need to know about
Combining multiple jobs brings various benefits. You encounter new roles, organisations, and networks, boosting your employability in a rapidly changing labour market. At the same time, you stimulate creativity and increase your innovative capacity by picking up ideas from different worlds.
Risks, however, also loom. Taking on too much can quickly lead to fatigue or even burnout. The notion of freedom and autonomy may prove an illusion: gig and freelance workers often face vague agreements or a lack of social protection. The boundary between work and private life can blur swiftly. If you work in paid employment by day and run your own business at night, little time remains for relaxation. Polyworking increasingly forces you to see yourself as a brand or entrepreneur, which can make you lose touch with colleagues, teams, or social safety nets.
How to start polyworking without burning out
If you want to take the plunge, first reflect carefully on your career goals. What do you truly want to achieve, and what gives you energy? Be honest about your resilience and available time. Do you have enough capacity for multiple jobs? And, above all, can you clearly set your own boundaries?
Build a strong social safety net – colleagues, mentors, freelance networks, but also family and friends. Finally, create a solid weekly structure: schedule sufficient rest, safeguard your autonomy, and stay mindful of who you are on the labour market.
A permanent shift in how we work?
Is polyworking here to stay? Hard Belgian data are still lacking, yet clear signals point to continued growth. More and more students are combining their studies with a job, and flexi-work is gaining popularity: in the third quarter of 2024 Belgium counted 181,727 flexi-jobs. Moreover, polyworking fits broader career trends in Western Europe, where the traditional linear career path is increasingly giving way to a dynamic, hybrid model. The rise of polyworking therefore appears to be no temporary hype, but a logical consequence of how work is evolving.
About the author
Sofie Jacobs is Associate Professor of Sustainable Career Development at Antwerp Management School and a guest lecturer in HRM at the University of Antwerp, where she earned her PhD in 2017. Her research explores the challenges and opportunities of non-standard careers – including freelancing and polyworking – alongside flexible talent management and career mobility. She also serves as Academic Director of the Global Leadership Program, helping students develop the self-awareness and self-leadership skills to navigate their future careers.
