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Employee Relations

66% of workers juggle side hustles alongside main jobs, data finds

Data from kickresume found 46% would quit their main job if their side hustle paid the same, with 21% ready to do it “immediately.”

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66% of workers juggle side hustles alongside main jobs, data finds
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66% of workers said they worked on their side hustle during regular working hours, with 13% doing this often, according to research from kickresume.

Three in five (61%) workers had a side hustle, with most choosing not to tell their manager.

29% did extra work regularly, while 32% picked it up occasionally. 

48% said they started for financial reasons, 12% called it a passion project, and 11% hoped to make it their future career.

24% relied on extra income to get by, while 39% preferred their side hustle to their main job. 

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One in five said their side hustle income was irregular or inconsistent. 

19% earned £38 to £151 a month, 17% made £151 to £378, 14% brought in £378 to £757, and 11% made £757 to £1,892. 5% had not made any income yet.

39% said the extra money was a nice extra, 31% said it was important, and 24% called it “essential to survive.” 

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36% spent five to 10 hours a week on their side hustle and 35% spent under five hours. 

17% put in 10 to 20 hours and 12% worked more than 20 hours a week.

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39% said they enjoyed their side hustle more than their main job, while 40% liked both the same. 

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46% would quit their main job if their side hustle paid the same, with 21% ready to do it “immediately.”

People in the media and creative industry were most likely to quit, at 63%. 

In healthcare, only 30% would leave their main job. 

The most common side hustles were in tech or IT (24%), teaching or consulting (22%), and creative work like photography (15%). 

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Of those without a side hustle, 50% did not know where to start, 20% said they did not have time, and 9% were already burnt out. 

Extra income (34%) and financial independence (32%) were the most popular motivations to get started.

Peter Duris, CEO at kickresume, said: “It’s increasingly common to have a side hustle, whether it’s to make some extra money, turn your creative passion into a source of income, or take the first step towards going freelance. 

“Nearly two thirds of people (61%) have a side gig these days. 

“We found that the biggest obstacle for those who haven’t started yet is simply not knowing where to begin — 50% of people cited this as their main barrier, while 20% said they just don’t have the time.”

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Duris added: “If you’re thinking about starting a new venture for extra income, my advice would be to plan how many hours you’re willing and able to put into it — don’t let burnout creep up on you. 

“For many people, a full-time job is draining by itself. But the additional income can be extremely helpful, and if it’s in a field you’re interested in, it can be really fulfilling. 

“21% of our survey respondents said that if their side hustle paid as much as their main job, they’d quit immediately to focus on it instead.”

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