ATLANTA — In the predawn, long before getting to her job as a Marietta teacher, Emily Willard, 28, hits the gym.
A couple times a week — as well as some weekends and school holidays — she’s at Total Row in Buckhead, getting a bit of a workout, sure, but that’s not why she’s there. She’s a trainer, leading a group of early morning rowers in their huffing and puffing so she can pick up some extra coin.
“It is nice to have money on the side,” Willard said.
In Atlanta and nationally, the unemployment rate is plumbing historic lows. Most people looking for a job can find one. But for some, one job isn’t enough.
One thing that hasn’t changed amid an unprecedented decade of economic growth: About 5% of American workers still have at least one side hustle, according to government statistics, although researchers believe the actual number is higher.