‘Side hustles are here to stay’, thanks to hybrid work and economic pressures

New research shows that many Australians are no longer relying on a single job to meet their needs, in the face of cost-of-living issues. However, workers are balancing these side hustles without sacrificing performance and productivity.

New research from global HR platform Remote, conducted by PureProfile in July and which saw 1,002 Australian consumers surveyed, shows that Australians are balancing side hustles without sacrificing performance, which presents a trust-building opportunity for employers.

Why so many have hustles on the side

As cost-of-living pressures mount, Australians are turning to side hustles in unprecedented numbers, Remote said, with flexible work arrangements making this possible.

Far from interfering with their primary employment roles, the platform said, most Australians say their side hustles are manageable and don’t affect their day jobs, especially when employers offer the autonomy to work remotely or flexibly.

When asked why they had started a side hustle, 63 per cent said it was to cope with the cost of living, 44 per cent are saving for a specific goal, such as a home deposit or travel, 40 per cent said the extra income assists them with covering important costs, and 19 per cent claimed their side hustle is essential, and that they would not be able to meet their basic expenses without it.

“Yet despite these pressures, side hustlers are keeping their workloads in check,” Remote said.

“Of those who do have a side hustle, most keep their work hours below 10 per week. Almost half (49 per cent) working just 1–5 hours per week on their side hustle, with a further 40 per cent working 6-10 hours per week.”

How those hours are being worked is demonstrative of the rise of the “7-to-10 economy”, in that 63 per cent work on their side hustle in the evenings, 55 per cent work on weekends, and 24 per cent use their leave, or days off.

Implications for employers

Remote’s research showed a strong correlation between flexible work arrangements and the ability to maintain a side hustle without it interfering with a primary job.

More than 58 per cent of side hustlers are working in remote or hybrid roles, with another 18 per cent fully onsite but with flexible hours. Sixty-two per cent said that remote or hybrid work has helped them start or maintain a side hustle.

This supports the survey’s broader findings that side hustles are not a threat to core productivity. In fact, 72 per cent of respondents said their side hustle has never interfered with their main job, and only 9 per cent reported consistent interference.

More worrying for employers is that nearly half (46 per cent) of side hustlers say their employer doesn’t know about their side hustle, and 11 per cent are unsure if their employer is aware.

Yet, among those whose employers do know about their side hustle, 81 per cent say they feel supported and understood.

When asked what working policies would make it easier to manage a side hustle, Australian workers said: flexible working hours (76 per cent), remote or hybrid work options (44 per cent), fewer restrictions in employment contracts (30 per cent), and entrepreneurial support in the workplace (22 per cent).

Reflections

Remote co-founder and chief executive Job van der Voort said the findings signal a major shift in both employee expectations and the opportunity for business leaders to foster better workplaces to assist employees through the cost-of-living crunch.

“Side hustles are here to stay, and a reflection of today’s economic reality. Rather than viewing side hustles as something to police or fear, this is an opportunity for employers to build genuine trust and flexibility with their teams,” he said.

“The best employer-employee relationships are those where companies actively support their people’s goals – especially when financial pressures are driving these decisions.”

“Developing policies that will match how people work today will go a long way in retaining talent and being understanding rather than restrictive. In turn, employees will reward you with loyalty that’s increasingly rare in today’s competitive job market.”