A third of Gen Z respondents (33%) said AI tools had freed up time to earn additional income, compared with just 3% of Gen X respondents reflecting on their university experience.
Data from kickresume found 46% would quit their main job if their side hustle paid the same, with 21% ready to do it “immediately.”
The study found this was most common among younger people, with 19% of Gen Z and 15% of millennials starting a side hustle.
CV-Library revealed that searches for “best side hustle 2026” are up 90% since the start of January.
Research found that in December 2025 alone, searches for “side hustle” and “second job” were made a combined 56,000 times.
The average UK side hustle now brings in more than £450 a month, with Millennials earning the most, according to new research from Royal Mail.
More than half (57%) believed the old way of working in one job would soon be out of date.
The report found that 42% of Gen Z workers surveyed said they were juggling multiple roles.
According to business accounts expert Joe Phelan, digital platforms have made it easier to launch a small business, but the operational realities are frequently overlooked.
The study, based on responses from over 5,600 working adults, found that financial pressure is the biggest motivator for all generations for driving the uptake of side hustles.
New research from Nottingham Building Society reveals that 22% of people in the UK, rising to 30% among those under 35, have started a side hustle alongside their existing job to increase their chances of securing a mortgage.