Many young people seek employment, side hustle and ways to make money as their careers begin. It also improves how individuals work.
Shola West, 22, works on the media partnerships team at the advertising agency OMD. She works full-time and operates a freelance consultant firm where she delivers career guidance to Generation Z.
West claims that her manager in London is aware of her side hustle and approves of it. This indicated to her that she might have my logo on the side.
West has also been able to pursue other interests due to the flexibility of his job schedule. While at work, for example, she creates films for her TikTok account, explaining how the media industry works. “Hybrid working has helped me with my other jobs,” she adds. “In between meetings, I can work on my business or shoot films at home.”
West is one of many young individuals who believe that having full-time work is insufficient for a fulfilling career. Generational shifts, an unpredictable economy, and an ever-changing workplace imply that a young worker’s normal career looks substantially different now than before the pandemic.
Many members of Generation Z are finding work: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 21 million 16-24-year-old employees will be in the United States by July 2022, with the employment rate increasing by 54.4% between July 2021 and July 2022. And, as they age, the side job will likely become more prevalent and tolerated. Pursuing passion projects and having many ways to produce money may become one of the most critical factors distinguishing the younger generation in the job over time.
How the quest for side hustle began
Before the epidemic, people had a side hustle but mostly performed them because they had to, not because they wanted to. Many have taken gig-economy work instead of or in addition to full-time occupations in recent years. Even now, many people require extra income from side occupations. The insurance company Royal London polled 4,000 UK workers in September 2022 and discovered that 16% had taken on a second job to assist in paying for growing living costs.
Some people will always have many jobs, but as the world of work has transformed, knowledge workers have discovered a new method to supplement their income. By making work schedules more flexible, employees have more opportunities to pursue their passions and earn extra money because they want to rather than because they have to.
The main reason is the emergence of online platforms such as Etsy and Shopify, which make it simple to earn money from hobbies and social media accounts that can be used to build a personal brand.
A new option for Gen Z to supplement their income
The majority of side hustle are held by persons who are just starting their careers. Kantar questioned 10,000 workers worldwide in February 2023 and discovered that 40% of Gen Z workers have at least two jobs.
Even if the economy is unstable and living costs rise, some are still done for monetary gain. Yet, Generation Z is increasingly interested in side employment because of how the world has evolved since they were born. As a result, there are fewer and fewer jobs with a clear path. Furthermore, young workers are entering a troubled workplace. Therefore they want to make themselves more employable in the long run by remaining flexible and being able to transfer jobs rather than being stuck in the same one for an extended period.
Side occupations also help distribute risk. For example, careers and sectors can go out of style quickly, as younger workers are well aware. Also, their parents’ occupations may not be as dependable as they once were, so they frequently look to their contemporaries, who establish new routes by attempting outside jobs amplified on digital platforms.
Furthermore, Gen Z is fascinated by how diverse side hustle might be. They seek to carve a more equitable course through their lives. They are starting their professions when everything changes, so they have learned to be adaptable.
Side hustle not only provide young people with new ways to earn money but also money to spend on activities they enjoy. In addition, getting a side job is ideal for young workers to grow as people and make extra money. According to Meyer Grelli, a student is working on a start-up that will allow digital natives to work in various IT professions concurrently on their own time.
A future distinguishing feature
In the changing world of work, there are indicators that businesses are more tolerant of employees having side jobs. “Before the epidemic, workers were less open and eager to talk about anything that could take them away from their full-time employment, even child care,” Meyer Grelli adds. “Yet, businesses are becoming more open and eager to listen to their employees’ underlying needs and desires. This includes projects that you enjoy working on.”
Read Also: Gen Z dealing with excess work pressure
Companies may use side hustle to retain good employees, and employees may use them to gain experience and improve skills applicable to their primary employment.
