New research from Careerminds UK has found that nearly half of full-time workers run out of money before payday, with IT professionals most likely to take on extra paid work despite being the best-paid group in the survey.
Inflation has risen to 3.1%, up from 2.6% in June, while real regular pay grew by just 0.8%, according to the Office for National Statistics. Prices are around 30% higher than in 2021.
With that in mind, Careerminds UK asked 1,000 UK adults in full-time employment how many days before payday their money runs out, whether they take on extra paid work and what they give up to make their pay stretch, comparing the answers across 12 industries.
Nearly half of UK workers (46.8%) run out of money 7.9 days before payday, leaving 22 days of the month covered. IT is the least likely industry to live payday to payday (37.2%), despite one in two (50.4%) doing side work and being the best-paid industry. Around six in 10 (60.7%) have a second income or are looking for one, rising to 34.0% among 18 to 28-year-olds.
“The people who need additional income the most aren’t necessarily the ones who have the flexibility, time or energy to take on more work.”
Amanda Augustine, certified professional career coach and resident careers expert for Careerminds UK
A UK month’s pay lasts up to 22 days
Nearly half of full-time workers (46.8%) run out of money before payday, an average of 7.9 days early, meaning a pay cheque meant to cover a month stops working with more than a week still to go. On a 30-day pay period that leaves around 22 days covered and more than a week to meet from savings, credit or borrowing.
For some the gap is wider: 17.2% run out at least eight days early and 6.7% run out 15 days or more before payday. No industry reaches a full pay period. Construction and trades pay lasts longest at 23.7 days, education shortest at 20.8.
Half of tech workers have a side hustle
IT and telecoms workers are the best paid in the survey, with an average salary of £60,600 and 58.4% earning £50,000 or more. They are also the most likely to do extra paid work, at 50.4% against 30.4% across all full-time workers, and four fifths of it is freelance, gig or side work rather than a second job.
ONS figures show businesses in information and communication are the most likely of any industry to work hybrid, at 49%, against 4% in hospitality. Coding, design and consultancy sell by the hour, can be done from a laptop in the evening and need no shift pattern or physical premises.
However, financial need doesn’t explain the ranking, as IT is the least likely industry to live pay cheque to pay cheque (37.2%), while transport and logistics, which does the least extra work (14.3%), sits above average at 58.7%.
Gen Z most likely to have a second income
Nearly one in three full-time workers (30.4%) do extra paid work on top of their main job, including 7.3% with a second regular job and 23.1% doing freelance, gig or side work. A further 30.3% are actively looking, bringing the total to 60.7%.
Younger workers are the most likely to already have one, at 34.0% of 18 to 28-year-olds against 21.3% of those aged 55 to 64. The people who need it most are the least likely to have found it: those living payday to payday are nearly twice as likely to be looking (38.1% against 19.7%) but less likely to already be doing it.
Many are turning down social plans to reach next payday
More than one in five full-time workers (21.1%) have turned down social plans or events such as weddings and birthdays because their pay didn’t last, and a similar share (21.3%) have cancelled subscriptions, insurance or a gym membership. More than one in eight (13.2%) have sold belongings, and one in five (20%) have skipped meals. Four in five (80.7%) have done at least one of these in the past 12 months.
Augustine said: “Some jobs naturally lend themselves to freelance work. If you’re a developer, for example, you might be able to take on a project in the evening or over the weekend. But if you work in healthcare, education or another role that requires you to be physically present, finding those extra opportunities may be much harder.
“That’s an important distinction. The people who need additional income the most aren’t necessarily the ones who have the flexibility, time or energy to take on more work.”
About the research
Careerminds UK surveyed 1,000 UK adults in full-time employment aged 18 to 64 via Pollfish in October 2026. All percentages are a share of all 1,000 workers unless stated otherwise. Living from payday to payday means take-home pay covers essential outgoings with nothing left over or falls short in some or most months. The average number of days before payday is calculated among respondents who report running out of money. Calculations of how long pay lasts assume a 30-day pay period. Income figures are self-reported and represent earnings before tax. Average salaries are estimated from the midpoint of each respondent’s pay band.
About Careerminds UK
Careerminds UK is a global workforce solutions provider delivering career transition, workforce design and talent development to organisations worldwide. Its consumer career brands extend that reach, giving individuals AI-powered career tools and coaching at every stage of the career journey.
