Number of Teachers Taking Second Jobs Increases by 42% in the United Kingdom
As concerns over the salaries received by teachers in the United Kingdom (UK) increase, one in six teachers has stated they are taking on a second job outside of teaching. According to the results of a survey conducted by Teacher Tapp, there has been a significant 42 per cent increase in the proportion of teachers gaining extra income through jobs outside their profession. The organization, which conducts daily surveys with more than 10,000 teachers and school leaders, asked participants in its latest survey in January whether they had earned cash through means other than teaching in the previous 12 months. Between 2019 and 2022, the proportion of respondents answering yes remained at about 12 per cent, but this increased to 17 per cent in 2023.
Teacher Tapp data also revealed that male teachers are more likely to earn money outside of education, with 20 per cent of male teachers doing so compared to 16 per cent of female teachers. The survey results also showed an inverse relationship between seniority and earning money from a second job. Only 8 per cent of senior teachers reported earning good money from their second job, while 17 per cent of less senior teachers and school leaders had a second job that paid well. 72 per cent of participants stated that their workload had increased since the start of the academic year, and the same proportion reported that their schools had not taken any measures to “address the concerns raised.”
Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of NEU, the second teaching union to announce plans for a consultative ballot among its members on salaries and workload last Monday, commented on the survey results, saying, “The increase in teachers taking on second jobs highlights my concerns.” He added, “Teacher salary levels are too low to sustain their livelihoods, and NEU is calling for a significant correction in teacher salaries.” Kebede emphasized that teachers should not be in a position where they have to take on second jobs to make ends meet. The union announced that it would hold a consultative ballot in the coming week, including industrial action if necessary, to secure a better deal for teachers on salary, workload, working hours, and well-being.