Image Source: Wmar 2 News
As they start their careers, more and more young people are looking for multiple jobs, side hustle and ways to make money. And it could change work for the better.
Shola West, who is 22 years old, works at the advertising company OMD on the media partnerships team. She has a full-time job and runs a business on the side where she gives Gen Z career advice as a freelance consultant.
West, who works in London, says her boss knows about her side job and is fine with it. This meant to her that she could have my brand on the side.
West has also been able to follow his other interests thanks to his flexible work schedule. During work hours, she makes videos for her TikTok account that explain how the media business works. In addition, she says, “Hybrid working has helped my side jobs.” “When I’m at home between meetings, I can work on my business or make videos.”
West is one of many young people who think a full-time job alone isn’t enough to make a career satisfying. Generational changes, an uncertain economy, and a constantly changing workplace mean that a young worker’s typical career looks very different than before the pandemic.
Many Gen Z workers are entering the job market: Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that 21 million 16–24-year-old workers will be in the US by July 2022, with the employment rate going up 54.4% year over year. And as they get older, the side hustle will probably become more popular and accepted. Over time, pursuing passion projects and having multiple ways to make money could be one of the most important things that set the youngest generation in the workforce apart.
How side hustle got normalized
Before the pandemic, people had side jobs, but they often did them because they had to, not because they wanted to. In recent years, they have taken on gig-economy jobs either instead of or in addition to a full-time job. Even now, many people need extra income from side jobs. A survey of 4,000 UK workers by Royal London insurance company in September 2022 found that 16% of respondents had taken on an extra job to help pay for rising living costs.
Some people will always have more than one job, but as the world of work has changed, knowledge workers have found a new way to make money on the side. By making work schedules more flexible, employees have more chances to follow their passions and make extra money because they want to, not because they have to.
The main reason for this is the rise of online platforms like Etsy and Shopify that make it easy for people to make money from their hobbies and social media accounts that can be used to build a personal brand.
A new way for Gen Z to make money on the side
People who are just starting in their careers are the ones who are likely to have a side hustle. A survey of 10,000 workers worldwide by Kantar in February 2023 shows that 40% of Gen Z workers have at least two jobs.
Some of this is still being done because of money, even though the economy is uncertain and the cost of living is increasing. But broader generational changes also make Gen Z more interested in a side huslte. Fewer and fewer jobs follow a straight line. In addition, young workers are entering a tumultuous work environment. They want to position themselves up for long-term employability, stay flexible, and be able to move between workplaces rather than necessarily staying in one job for a long time.
Side jobs also spread out risk. Younger workers know that jobs and industries can go out of style very quickly. Moreover, their parents’ jobs may not be as stable as they used to be, so they often look to their peers, who are making new paths by experimenting with side jobs amplified on digital platforms.
Gen Z also cares a lot about how different side jobs can be. They want to build a path that goes through their lives more evenly. They are entering the workforce when everything changes, so they have learned to be adaptable.
As well as giving young people new ways to make money, side jobs let them invest in their interests. A side hustle is the best way for young workers to grow personally and financially. Meyer Grelli says that a student is working on a start-up that will give digital natives a way to work multiple tech jobs simultaneously on their own time.
A future hallmark
There are signs that employers are more open to employees having side hustle in the new world of work. Meyer Grelli says, “Before the pandemic, workers were less open and willing to talk about anything that might take time away from their full-time job, even child care.” “But now, businesses are more understanding and open to their workers’ deeper needs and wants. This includes passion projects.”
Read Also: Are Gen Z the most stressed generation?
Employers could use side hustle to keep good workers, and employees could use them to gain experience and get better at skills they can use at their main job.
Opinions expressed by California Gazette contributors are their own.
