Scarlett Johansson Says Work-Life Balance Is 'Impossible'—Does the Average American Agree?

Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.

Even the rich and the famous can get burned out.

“I think actually admitting that there is no work-life balance is the first step to kind of getting there,” Scarlett Johansson told CBS Sunday Morning in an appearance last month. “It’s not possible. There’s always … a deficit in some area,” the actor added.

Johansson, worth an estimated $165 million, launched her skincare brand The Outset in 2022. On top of running the business, she’s kept up a steady acting schedule, appearing in multiple films a year and starring in the latest addition to the Jurassic Park franchise last year.

After years of above-average inflation and concerns about AI's potential to disrupt the labor market, Americans are increasingly anxious about the economic outlook and their own finances. A growing share of workers are taking on second jobs, although a sizable share of workers report being satisfied with their work-life balance.

Work-life balance matters to Americans. A little over half of participants in the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2025 Workplace Wellness Survey said work-life balance was a top-three contributor to their sense of well-being in the workplace. It was the most common answer, followed by a flexible schedule (42%) and quality health care coverage (38%).

The survey also found that Johansson's thoughts on work-life balance may put her in the minority. Forty-six percent of respondents said work-life balance at their company was excellent or very good, the highest share in the past four years. Just 5% of workers surveyed said their work-life balance was poor, the smallest share in the past four years.

Other statistics suggest Americans are increasingly prioritizing work as economic anxiety mounts. Consumer sentiment is at a record low amid resurgent fears that living expenses are outpacing wages. And Corporate America’s embrace of AI has workers worried about their future job prospects. Almost one in five workers says it’s at least somewhat likely AI or automation will eliminate their job in the next five years, up from 15% a year ago.

The share of employed Americans working two jobs has increased steadily since 2020. Workers with two jobs accounted for about 5.4% of all employed workers last year, up from 4.5% in 2020 and the highest annual average since 2004. The share of employed Americans working two jobs has been 5% or more since September 2023, the longest streak since 2007.

Americans doubled on work in unprecedented numbers last year. A record 9.5 million workers reported having two jobs in November, and a record 447,000 reported having two full-time jobs in June.

It's not just economic anxiety driving the trend. Technological changes and norms disrupted by the pandemic are playing a role. It's arguably easier than ever to work a side hustle with the proliferation of apps such as DoorDash, Uber and Fiverr. According to a recent ZipRecruiter survey, one-third of U.S. workers have a side hustle or multiple jobs. New entrants to the labor force who grew up alongside the gig economy are twice as likely as more-experienced workers to have a side hustle (59% vs. 28%).

Workers cite a variety of reasons for working multiple jobs. Some younger workers view side hustles as resume builders that will help them break into an increasingly difficult entry-level job market. Others are trying to make ends meet after years of above-average inflation and economic uncertainty. Some high-earners take on side hustles in pursuit of wealth and status.

Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.