Celebrating Overwork: When Five Jobs is a Success Story by Brent Simon
In a recent statement that unintentionally captures the realities of many households, Senator Shenella Govia celebrated Antigua and Barbuda’s economic expansion, highlighting job creation and citing that individuals now hold “two, three, four, even five jobs.” On the surface, this reflects a bustling economy, full of opportunities. Yet, for those living this reality, the message may have sounded more like a concession than a triumph. In any thriving economy, should workers really need to find multiple jobs just to achieve a basic standard of living?
A successful economy is not just about quantity—how many jobs exist or how many people are employed—but also quality. Do those jobs pay fair, livable wages? Do they provide the security and benefits needed to sustain a household? It is not the mark of progress if families must trade rest, family time, and health for the opportunity to survive. Instead, it reflects an economy where growth disproportionately benefits beaurecrats,businesses and the top earners, leaving the working class to shoulder the burdens of rising costs and stagnant wages.
Multiple jobs should not be the norm. Holding multiple jobs is not new for individuals living in countries facing economic challenges, but when this reality becomes commonplace, it points to deeper systemic issues:
- Wage Stagnation:
Even as job numbers increase, wages may not be keeping pace with inflation or the rising cost of living. A worker who holds down one full-time job should earn enough to meet basic needs like rent, food, healthcare, and education. If not, the system isn’t rewarding labor; it’s exploiting it.
- Cost of Living Crisis:
Rent, utilities, transportation, and groceries in Antigua and Barbuda have risen steadily. Job creation alone does not solve the problem if wages cannot stretch to cover these expenses. Economic expansion should lift everyone—not just through employment but through affordability and opportunity.
- The Erosion of Work-Life Balance:
The true cost of multiple jobs is not measured in dollars but in missed family moments, physical exhaustion, and mental stress. When parents work late shifts at one job and then catch a few hours of rest before clocking in at another, what happens to family life, education support, and community involvement?
- Disparities in Opportunities:
Job creation may favor certain sectors—hospitality, tourism, or gig-based work—but what about individuals who lack access to training or higher-wage professions? Encouraging people to take on multiple jobs without addressing the structural barriers to upward mobility only deepens inequality.
What does true economic success looking like?, you may ask!
True economic progress occurs when workers can rely on one job to build a decent life. A properly structured economy creates an environment where:
A full-time job pays wages that reflect the real cost of living. Workers do not need multiple jobs to avoid poverty. Employment opportunities provide pathways for upward mobility, skills development, and economic security. Most importantly in such an environment people have time to rest, care for their families, and enjoy life—because economic health should improve quality of life, not erode it.
To be fair, we can reasonably assume that Senator Govia’s comments were not meant to suggest that working five jobs is ideal or sustainable. She likely intended to highlight Antigua and Barbuda’s potential for growth and job creation while acknowledging the determination of its people. However, such remarks, even if unintentional, can serve as a wake-up call for policymakers. It is not enough to celebrate job numbers—leaders must ask what these jobs mean for workers and their families.
The senator’s statement could open the door to a larger, much-needed discussion: How can we ensure that economic expansion leads to meaningful prosperity for all? Growth must be paired with wage reforms, education opportunities, and policies that address the cost of living.
Because at the end of the day, economic success should never be measured by how many jobs one person can juggle, but by how secure, comfortable, and dignified a life one job can provide. Until that vision becomes reality, there will be little to celebrate beyond the resilience of the very people who deserve so much more.
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This is well said!
“In any thriving economy, should workers really need to find multiple jobs just to achieve a basic standard of living?”
Why does this writer insult our intelligence?
The fact that a thriving allows people who desire to take on second jobs, generally part time, to more quickly meet their goals, is not a problem.
Why do we play politics so much in this country?
The young Senator did not state that this was a forced reality. Only that there were people who, for whatever reason – quicker mortgage pay offs, saving extra for a special trip, whatever – chose to pursue that option because it is possible.
I know many people who are doing just that. In most cases part time jobs aren’t even daily. An extra few hours of book keeping on some days. An extra few hours of something else on the weekend. This is the freedom of quicker earning that some can now enjoy in today’s economy.
Of course most do not do this but it’s good to know it’s an option.
@Leadership Matters: You could season, batter and deep fry shit 💩 and sell it as GFC – Gassy Fried Chicken
Brent my boy. Antiguans will not see this as a success…Giselle had 4 jobs back in the day and not one complained. ..except Gassy..I guess that was a bad thing cause may be she needed the 4 to sustain her lifestyle…so please do not insult Leadership’s intelligence.
Yep! and not to mention Dot-See-Eye-Zack
Talk about yourself and your comrades because you get paid very handsomely for your lustrous spinning and singing. Many persons in our society have no other choice but to do multiple menial jobs and still can’t see an improvement in their standard of living. YOU can never imagine working 3 or 4 jobs daily, three hours each, at minimum wage rate. When you sit on 2,3, 4 and sometimes 5 boards, you couldn’t care any less about the very many who are struggling.
A well reasoned piece writer. The Senator’s assertion was not at all well thought out and that is why there was the barrage of criticisms leveled at her statement. Multiple jobs is NOT a sign of a country’s economic well-being but rather indicate someone’s personal financial situation. People engage in working multiple jobs in order to reduce their financial stress. Many people are struggling financially in order to meet their basic needs or their desired lifestyle and are literally forced into doing several jobs. You ask many mothers who would rather stay home with their kids but their economic situation leaves them with no other choice.
Was your allegation against the Dominican queen contestant “well thought out”???? Matter of fact was you approaching her “well thought out”???? What made you think that you even stood a SINCERE chance with her???
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