Structural Change, Technology, and Moonlighting: The IT Professionals’ Equation

Moonlighting, the practice of holding multiple jobs, has two primary motives (Becker, 1965): pecuniary (financial) and non-pecuniary (non-financial). This study examines how a third factor, “Work from Home,” has gained significance as another primary factor for moonlighting in recent times due to changing economic conditions, the recent pandemic, and the nature of IT jobs. Our study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining in-depth interviews with 20 IT professionals and a survey of 168 IT professionals. After identifying the primary motives for moonlighting through a qualitative study, researchers employed Logistic Regression modeling in Python to validate their impact on the decision to pursue moonlighting. The findings highlight the pivotal role of work-from-home (WFH), followed by non-pecuniary motives playing a key role. IT professionals raise important questions about the ethical acceptance of moonlighting by current employers and its acceptance as a strategic HR policy by IT firms. Post-COVID, moonlighting has become a viable strategy for IT professionals to earn foreign currency, broadening their experience and exposure beyond geographical boundaries.  On the other hand, the inclusion of moonlighting in HR strategy would help IT companies retain talented employees and indirectly benefit from the enhanced skills, experiences, and networks.