More Gen Z are picking up a side hustle, but should you?

Culture

Rather than using hobbies as a way to mitigate stress and promote mental health, they might turn into yet another aspect of work.

By KALPANA MAHENDRAN

21 Jan 2025 04:30pm

The freelance nature of side hustles allows workers to choose their hours. Pexels

TYPICALLY, someone holding down more than one job suggests they are undergoing financial hardship. Today, it's not uncommon to have two jobs as a way to diversify income. We think of these as 'side hustles' or 'gig work': jobs that often have nothing to do with a person's main income or area of study.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty led many young people to seek multiple income streams. A number turned to gig work, which refers to freelance, on-demand jobs, often in a more casual setting compared to an office. Examples include personal shopping, part-time delivery work, selling crafts, or pet sitting.

Changing work environments have enabled this. The internet made it easier than ever to connect with potential clients. Work environments also became less regimented, following changes necessitated by the pandemic. This meant workers had options to work at home or outside the office, and more flexible hours.

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE HOW TO WORK

To some extent, side hustles have always existed. However, those were generally done out of necessity rather than choice. Nowadays, many prefer to have multiple income streams, even those already earning enough to survive comfortably.

This change was spearheaded by young people. The Labour Force Survey Report for Q3 of 2024 revealed the number of own-account workers, or gig workers, in Malaysia was 3.09 million, up from 2.93 million in early 2023.

Of course, companies have also picked up on this upward tick in gig work. There are now several apps designed specifically to connect workers to part-time jobs locally, such as GoGet, Adecco, and FastJobs.

A survey last year by the Malaysia Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR Centre) showed that 19 per cent of local gig workers plan to make it their long-term career.

THE PROS OF THE SIDE HUSTLE

Workers report flexibility, accesibility, and extra income as being the main benefits of gig work, according to the 4IR Centre. The freelance nature of side hustles allows workers to choose their hours, leaving more time for other commitments. This is especially useful for students, people with famillies, or those working several jobs.

In addition, gig work is a way to mitigate risk. Multiple jobs means a person can safeguard against the chance they may someday be made redundant by economic or technological changes.

"Younger workers are aware that roles and industries can become obsolete at a dizzying pace," says Meyer Grelli of Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. "The careers of their parents' generation are no longer necessarily stable options."

It is also a useful way to leverage multiple skills. By having a variety of projects, a person can utilise talents that are unappreciated in their main jobs. A hobby artist, for example, can make additional income by selling paintings online. Similarly, someone with keen social skills could pursue work as a tour guide or host.

THE DOWNSIDES OF THE SIDE HUSTLE

Unfortunately, this increased productivity comes at a cost. When not correctly balanced, it can take over a person’s life.

"It’s a mindset that emphasises working hard and constantly striving for success," writes Jason Saltzman for Forbes, comparing it to "waking up at 5am to cram in a marathon before a cold shower and running three businesses, all while intermittent fasting."

This in turn leads to anxiety and burnout. The pressure to monetise hobbies, for example, can ruin a person’s enjoyment of them. Rather than using hobbies as a way to mitigate stress and promote mental health, they might turn into yet another aspect of work.

The transient nature of side hustles are also a risk. A United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) survey found more than half of Malaysian gig workers struggled to save for emergencies. Although this can be offset when a person has a primary source of income in addition to side gigs, the fact remains that side hustles can be inherently unstable.

Overall, however, the workplace structure has changed. As more members of Gen Z enter the workforce, side hustles will likely become a normal part of a working adult’s life.