Jayona Dorsey’s plate is full. A rising senior at Hampton University, she’s busy juggling classes, extracurriculars, and figuring out what she’s going to do after graduation — but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. As the founder of her own media studio, Dorsey dedicates much of her free time to freelance writing and consulting, which serves to not only make her money, but also to develop her talent and bolster her resume while still in school.
“As a college student, it’s important for me to create income streams that align with my interests and long-term goals. Beyond that, I wanted to develop skills that I can’t always learn in a classroom, like client management, pitching, creative direction, and entrepreneurship,” Dorsey tells Her Campus. “Every article I write, client I work with, and project I create helps me build skills that overlap with the career I ultimately want to pursue.”
If this sounds impressive, that’s because it is. But it’s not exactly out of the ordinary for this generation of college students. “Side hustles have become close to the default for this generation, and the numbers back that up, with 57% of Gen Zers maintaining a side hustle compared with 21% of Boomers,” says Christie Garton, founder and CEO of 1,000 Dreams Fund, a national nonprofit that supports young women through scholarships, mentorship, and other resources. While Garton applauds Gen Z for being such go-getters, she acknowledges it’s not 100% by choice. “We love to celebrate them as a generation of builders, [but] the quieter reality is that a lot of them didn’t choose the side hustle — they were forced to inherit it.”
But why are Gen Zers turning to side hustles in droves? Is it really just the economy that’s driving young people to seek out this career path, or is there more to it?
Yes, the economy and job market are huge factors.
Between the unstable job market and brutal economy, Gen Z can’t seem to catch a break. This is leading young people to cobble together multiple streams of income in order to become financially independent — or at least get by. According to Bank of America’s Gen Z Report for 2026, 16% of Gen Zers picked up a side hustle this year in order to be financially independent and in control of their money (compared to 12% in 2025). “I think a lot of people my age are turning to independent work because the job market is tough right now,” Starr Washington-Moo, a recent grad from San Francisco State University, says. For Washington-Moo, that looks like freelancing as a writer, teaching assistant, and college essay editing coach while juggling her responsibilities as a military spouse and new mom. “Between rising costs, layoffs, and limited opportunities in some industries, side hustles can provide extra income and flexibility.”
While having a full-time role once seemed like enough to build a life on, these days, that’s not always the case. “A full-time salary can only do so much. Having something on the side can help manage everyday expenses and, most of all, stay on top with monthly bills,” Makalah Wright, a freelance writer and recent grad from the University of West Georgia, says.
Cody Schuiteboer, president and CEO of the mortgage lender Best Interest Financial, co-signs this notion. “Having a diverse portfolio of income is a real self-preservation strategy,” he says. “Mixing income sources adds financial stability and is a critical safety net.”
For those still in college, the highly competitive internship application process (another result of the tough job market) also makes side hustles seem more feasible than landing a formal role. “With the job market being so unstable, Gen Z[ers] are turning to opportunities and positions that don’t require as much experience,” says Adeife Oluwakemi Aderibigbe, a junior at the University of South Florida and freelance college ambassador, sexual health advocate, and content creator. “Similar to an internship, [side hustles could have the same workload] and offer similar payment, but where an internship might have a rigorous interview process, buggy ATS software, and internal hiring, independent roles are much less strict.”
But side hustles aren’t just created out of desperation — for many, they’re strategic.
Gen Z may have come of age in a time when side hustles are a necessity for many, but they’re turning those side hustles into stepping stones on a path to a successful career. Many Gen Zers with side hustles end up learning more from the direct hands-on experience they get in these roles than they would in any textbook or cookie-cutter internship program. And hiring managers have taken notice.
“Hiring managers are looking for professionals that showcase curiosity and the ability to adapt. No one knows what business will look like in a few years, so these soft skills are essential,” Brianne Rush, founder of the early-career guidance platform the Independence Lab, says. “Showcasing your side hustle, freelance, business pursuits, or other passions is a great way to highlight [that] you are curious and adaptable.”
Side hustles are about more than money.
Side hustles may be a creative way to earn income and get ahead in your career, but they also solve another problem plaguing this generation: loneliness. After the pandemic, so much of life has moved online — remote classes and online internships are more common than ever. Because of this, much of Gen Z is craving authentic ways of connecting with one another, and surprisingly, side hustles are becoming a way for people to do so. “Side gigs have really grown my social and professional network,” says Lauryn Taylor, a recent grad from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a campus ambassador, events assistant, and creator. “I got ice cream the other day with a girl who was a brand ambassador at a different college than me but we followed each other on Instagram and realized we both lived in the city.”
For many, the work itself also provides connection and fulfillment. Ginger Koehler, a recent grad from the University of Florida, writer, and sex educator, finds deep meaning in her side hustle, especially as she’s navigating the changes that come after graduation. “Side hustles were a path out to connect with people in my post-grad slump,” Koehler says. “I see a side hustle being a part of my life for a long time. As a freelancer, a solid side hustle keeps me grounded and gives me purpose.”
A side hustle can also be a passion project. Going into college, a lot of students are told that creative interests aren’t sustainable careers and should strictly remain as hobbies. But creative side hustles prove that belief wrong. Sydney Smith, a recent graduate from North Carolina Central University, ran a photography business all throughout college, and is now expanding into dance instruction and choreography. “Whether I’m capturing someone’s graduation, creating a branding session, or choreographing a piece of movement, I love creating experiences that help people feel confident and remembered,” Smith says. “What started as something I genuinely enjoyed eventually became something people were willing to invest in, which made me realize I could turn my passion into a business. I chose to pursue my side hustles because I wanted to create opportunities for myself rather than waiting for someone else to give me one. I also want to prove to myself that I can build something sustainable doing work I genuinely enjoy.”
Gen Zers are built for side hustles.
It sort of feels like Gen Zers have been trained for this style of work for as long as they’ve had access to the internet (which, for many, was a very young age). “We’ve grown up seeing people build successful careers online, so creating your own opportunities feels more realistic than it did for previous generations,” Washington-Moo says.
The internet and the rise of AI have opened the door for new opportunities that didn’t exist a decade ago, making side hustles in general more accessible — especially to young people, whose lives are intertwined with tech. “We’re finding ways to monetize skills, interests, and communities through content creation, consulting, freelancing, and especially, entrepreneurship,” Dorsey says. “Instead of waiting for opportunities to come to us, many of us are creating our own. When traditional paths don’t always feel accessible, we find ways to build something ourselves.”