How Much Do We Really Know about Moonlighters?

This article reviewed the literature on moonlighers to compare the rate of moonlighting reported in government publications with empirical studies done by researchers, and to examine the differences between moonlighters and nonmoonlighters observed in empirical studies on several dependent variables. The average rate of moonlighting in empirical studies was found to be much higher than the rate reported in government publications, both in the U.S.A and Canada. Only a few differences were found between moonlighters and nonmoonlighters with regard to personal, social, and organizationally-valued outcomes. Implications of the findings are discussed for future research as well as for management practice.