Whether it’s to make ends meet or escape the 9-to-5 grind, more and more Brits are taking on second jobs, known as ‘side hustles’. From online empires to weekend freelancing, the rise of side hustles is reshaping how and why we work.
To unpack the scale and scope of this shift in employment, we’ve crunched the numbers, scoured the sources, and pulled together the latest UK side hustle statistics to give you a full picture of the hustle economy in 2025.
Key side hustle UK statistics
- 30% of British full-time workers have a side hustle.
- On average, side hustlers make £780 per month.
- The top 5% of UK side hustlers earn over £100k per year.
- 1 in 5 British side hustlers are working mums.
- Side hustlers dedicate about 10 hours per week to their second role.
- Selling handcrafted goods is the most popular side hustle, making up 23% of all hustles.
- Side hustles contribute £70 billion to the UK economy every year.
- 28% of side hustlers need a second income to meet basic costs of living
How many people have a side hustle in the UK?
According to numerous studies that we’ve reviewed, around 1 in 3 working people currently have a side hustle in the UK.
Since 2022, the number of British workers with side hustles has grown by 66%.
- A study by business service provider AllDayPA found that over 30% of British full-time workers have a side hustle.
- IPSE found that 460,000 people in the UK currently work on a side hustle.
- A report from Utility Warehouse found that about 47% of people might have a side hustle by the end of 2025.
How has side hustling grown in recent years?
- According to a report from IPSE, the number of people with side hustles in the UK increased by 20% throughout 2024.
- A study by freelance marketplace Fiverr found that 59% of 16-26 year olds already plan to start their first side hustle in the next year.
- The online store builder Squarespace (a popular platform for side hustle ventures) saw a 2,000% increase in unique online stores in the past 4 years, IMD reports.
How many people want to start a side hustle?
Research from NatWest found that 45% of people have a goal to start or grow their own side hustles.
How much do people earn from side hustles?
Side hustles can bring in anywhere from £100 to £9,000 per month.
Here’s a full breakdown of the average earnings of various side hustles, including the highest and lowest paid roles.
Average monthly side hustle income
- British side hustlers make an average of £780 per month, which equates to just under an additional £10,000 per year, according to research from Utility Warehouse.
- 7% of side hustles make more than £50,000, while a lucky 5% rake in over £100,000.
- Male side hustlers make 64% more than women with a second income, a study from Bankrate found.
- Millennials are the highest paid side hustlers, earning an average of £800 per month.
- Baby boomers earn the least from the side hustles – with an average of just £506 each month.
What’s the highest-paying side hustle?
- Information Technology is the most lucrative side hustle industry in the UK, with jobs like developers and IT consultants being the most popular – netting an average £622 per month.
- The second best-paid industry in the UK is Marketing, advertising & PR, which earns £495 monthly, followed by Business, consulting & management at £463, according to estimates from Adobe’s data.
- A study from NetCredit found that freelance Marketing Strategy had the best daily pay globally, with side hustlers earning an average of £89 per day.
Monthly side hustle earnings by industry
| Industry | Estimated Average Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|
| Information technology | £622 |
| Marketing, advertising & PR | £495 |
| Business, consulting & management | £463 |
| Energy & utilities | £435 |
| Engineering & manufacturing | £432 |
| Science & pharmaceuticals | £381.5 |
| Accountancy, banking & finance | £376 |
| Leisure, sport & tourism | £352 |
| Environment & agriculture | £350 |
| Property & construction | £332.5 |
| Recruitment & HR | £315 |
| Creative arts & design | £303.5 |
| Transport & logistics | £296.5 |
| Retail | £285.5 |
| Hospitality & events management | £281.5 |
| Charity & voluntary work | £280 |
| Law | £266.5 |
| Sales | £251.5 |
| Healthcare | £250 |
| Public services & administration | £206.5 |
| Teacher training & education | £184.5 |
| Law enforcement & security | £175 |
| Media & internet | £161.5 |
| Social care | £153 |
(Source: Weighted averages calculated using data from Adobe)
Which side hustle pays the least?
Adobe found that side hustles in the social care sector were found to be the least successful: average earnings are just £153 per month.
What do side hustlers spend the extra income on?
Research from BankRate uncovered what side hustlers spend their newfound additional income on, and it almost entirely broke down into four categories.
- Most side hustlers put their additional cash towards essentials: with 33% of them using the extra funds to pay for living expenses.
- 27% of side hustlers spend their extra money on luxuries.
- A further 25% save the money they make, while 12% use it to pay off existing debts.
Which people are starting side hustles in the UK?
Further studies have shown that younger people are more likely to start side hustles, and that it’s about even between genders. Here’s a full breakdown of the demographics of side hustlers.
Which generations have side hustles?
| Rank | Age group | % with a side hustle |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25-34 | 35% |
| 2 | 45-54 | 28% |
| 3 | 55-64 | 23% |
| 4 | 65+ | 20% |
(Source: AllDayPA)
- According to research from AllDayPA, young people are more likely to start side hustles: 35% of 25-34 year olds have one, while only 20% of 64+ year olds do.
- Utility Warehouse found that 54% of side hustlers are men, while 46% are women.
- IPSE found that 1 in 5 side hustles are being run by working mums.
- The average age to start a side hustle is 32 years old, according to a survey from GoDaddy.
What’s helped side hustlers grow their business?
Creating a new second source of income is difficult; Adobe’s research has found that a combination of networking, online tools, and useful tips have been the biggest help.
- 23% of side hustlers mentioned that networking with other go-getters helped get them off the ground.
- 35% cite social media as a key way of marketing their new business and contacting new clients.
- 13% mention business tools like software and apps, which help streamline things.
How much does it cost to start a side hustle?
Research from GoDaddy found that on average, it costs about £2,500 to set up a side hustle.
58% of side hustlers spent less than £500 setting up their new venture.
The average side hustler spent £2,509.10 to launch their venture.Â
Side hustles which don’t need any experience
Not all side hustles require past work experience or qualifications like a degree: NetCredit found that focus groups are the highest-paid, no-experience hustle, with a typical pay of £21.10 per hour.
Beginner roles often require nothing more than basic tech know-how, reliable internet, and strong communication skills: for example, a freelance virtual assistant can expect an impressive £20 hourly pay.
How much time do people spend on their side hustle?
Adobe’s research revealed that 72% of side hustlers spend about 10 hours per week on their pursuit, while 18% spend as long as 20 hours or more.
48% of side hustlers launched a website within just a couple of days, according to Adobe’s survey.
What are the most popular side hustles?
Studies have found that artisan crafts and freelance services are the most popular side hustles. The below statistics will look into the most popular side hustles in greater depth.
Most popular side hustles
- According to research by Aviva, the most popular side hustle is selling handcrafted products: this makes up 23% of side hustles.
- Online freelancing services make up 12% of people’s side hustles, followed closely by photography at 9%.
- 10% of side hustlers are aspiring social media influencers.
What side hustles do people want to set up?
Creative roles – like art, writing, and photography – proved to be the most popular side hustles, with 21% of Brits hoping to set up such a hustle. E-commerce was a close second, with 18% of British workers hoping to start a retail side business.
Which side hustle platform is the most popular?
The increasing popularity of side hustles is reflected by the user numbers of side hustle-related platforms: the below data shows which platforms have the most active freelancers.
| Rank | Platform | Type of work | Active freelancers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upwork | General freelancing | 18,000,000 |
| 2 | eBay | Selling goods | 17,000,000 |
| 3 | Etsy | Selling artisan goods | 8,100,000 |
| 4 | Uber | Taxi driving | 7,800,000 |
| 5 | PeoplePerHour | General freelancing | 3,000,000 |
| 6 | DePop | Selling clothing | 2,000,000 |
| 7 | InstaCart | Grocery delivery | 600,000 |
| 8 | Fiverr | General freelancing | 380,000 |
| 9 | Airtasker | Outsourcing tasks | 149,000 |
| 10 | Substack | Writing | 17,000 |
(Source: Platform website data and other related sources)
How much does the average UK YouTuber make?
According to Glassdoor, the average YouTuber in the UK makes about £33,338 per year.
How much do UK Etsy sellers make?
Sale Samurai estimates that the average Etsy seller has an income of roughly £35,000.
A total of £9.2 billion in goods are sold through Etsy every year.
How much does the average eBay seller earn?
Glassdoor puts the average earnings of eBay sellers at £25,000 per year.
Why are people starting side hustles?
There are numerous reasons behind the recent, massive uptick in side hustles. Factors like inflation, tech industry layoffs, and the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns likely contributed.
This data uncovers the top reasons why people are starting new side hustles.
- Adobe found that 66% of side hustlers cite financial necessity as their primary motivation, and started their second job to earn extra income.
- 31% of side hustlers claim to be pursuing a genuine passion or hobby.
- 22% of side hustlers value the flexibility of their new working pattern.
- 27% of people with side hustles mentioned the importance of empowering themselves and improving their mental health, according to Aviva.
- GoDaddy reports that 22% spotted a gap in the market, and are trying to fill it.
- 23.4% hoped their side hustle would provide them with better job security, according to a study from CV-Library.
Will people always need their side hustle to make ends meet?
A study from BankRate found that 28% of side hustlers think they’ll always need their second source of income to fund basic expenses.
What are the challenges of having a side hustle?
Handling a second job isn’t without its challenges: anything from time management to financial troubles are issues from side hustlers.
Biggest difficulties for side hustlers
- Adobe’s survey found that the biggest challenge was attempting to manage time: 43.2% struggle with things like balancing their other job, sacrificing their free time, and suffering from burnout.
- Constant administrative tasks and paperwork are also a struggle for 26.5% of side hustlers.
- Financial management and the loss of money proved difficult for 19% of people with a side hustle.
- Managing marketing and promotion, and attempting to find clients and customers, is a challenge for 14.1% and 18% of side hustlers respectively.
- Additionally, 23% feel there’s a stigma associated with having more than one income, and they’re reluctant to discuss it with friends or family, according to Utility Warehouse’s report.
| Rank | Challenge | % affected by it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Managing time | 43.20% |
| 2 | Administrative tasks | 26.50% |
| 3 | Stigma | 23% |
| 4 | Financial management | 19% |
| 5 | Finding clients | 18% |
| 6 | Marketing | 14.10% |
(Source: Adobe, Utility Warehouse)
What’s stopping people from starting a side hustle?
Adobe surveyed 1,500 people in 2024 and found that 36% of aspiring side hustlers fear that they wouldn’t be able to manage their time, while 20% of them fear that they’d fail.
Which part of the country has the most side hustles?
The prevalence of a second job varies across the country, with more side hustles correlating to areas with higher living expenses, according to research by AllDayPA.
- 40% of the people living in London and in the South West of England have an additional source of income, making them the regions with the highest concentration of side hustlers.
- On the other end of the scale is Wales, where only 21% of workers have a side hustle, the lowest of any UK region.
How much do side hustles contribute to the UK economy?
The Standard reported that Professor Stefan Allesch-Taylor CBE FKC found side hustles contribute a whopping £70 billion to the UK economy every year. He also notes that entrepreneurial side hustlers are learning valuable workplace skills in the process, which provides further value.
Do employers allow side hustles?
Legally, there’s nothing to stop workers from having a side hustle, provided that it doesn’t present a conflict of interest, interferes with their duties during work hours, or makes use of company resources. Employees aren’t obligated to let their bosses know about their side income.
Sources
The above statistics and data were sourced from the following sites:
- AllDayPA – The Rise of the Side Job: How Are People Making Additional Income in 2022: https://www.alldaypa.co.uk/the-rise-of-the-side-job/
- UtilityWarehouse – Hard-working Brits can earn £10k extra a year through side-hustles and second jobs: https://uw.co.uk/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/brits-earn-10k-extra-a-year-through-second-jobs
- IPSE – The Self-Employed Landscape 2024: https://www.ipse.co.uk/campaigns/the-self-employed-landscape/self-employed-landscape-2024
- IMD – Why the side hustle matters so much: https://www.imd.org/ibyimd/future-readiness/why-the-side-hustle-matters-so-much/
- Natwest – Nearly half of Brits want to start or grow a side hustle: https://www.natwestgroup.com/news-and-insights/news-room/press-releases/enterprise/2024/apr/nearly-half-of-brits-want-to-start-or-grow-a-side-hustle.html
- GoDaddy – U.K. side hustlers on fire new GoDaddy research study shows: https://www.godaddy.com/resources/uk/research/u-k-side-hustlers-on-fire-new-godaddy-research-study-shows
- Adobe – The UK’s Side Hustle Landscape: https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/learn/blog/side-hustles
- Bankrate – Side Hustle Survey: https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/side-hustle-survey/
- NetCredit – The Best-Paying Side Hustle Jobs for a Single Day of Work: https://www.netcredit.com/blog/best-side-hustles-to-make-money/
- Aviva – One in five Brits have started a ‘side hustle’ since March 2020: https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2022/06/one-in-five-brits-have-started-a-side-hustle-since-march-2020/
- Glassdoor – Youtuber salaries in United Kingdom: https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/youtuber-salary-SRCH_KO0,8.htm
- Sale Samurai – How much does the average Etsy seller make?: https://salesamurai.io/how-much-does-the-average-etsy-seller-make/
- Business of Apps – eBay Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025): https://www.businessofapps.com/data/ebay-statistics/
- CV-Library – 60% of UK workers look to take on a side hustle in 2023: https://www.cv-library.co.uk/recruitment-insight/60-uk-workers-look-take-side-hustle-2023/
- Harrison Drury Solicitors – Employee side hustles – What you need to know as an employer: https://www.harrison-drury.com/news-and-insights/employee-side-hustles-what-you-need-to-know-as-an-employer/
- The Standard – It’s not unicorns driving the UK economy; it’s ‘side hustles’: https://www.standard.co.uk/business/side-hustle-entrepreneurs-unicorns-small-business-b1062335.html
- DemandSage – 31 Upwork Statistics (2025) – Number of Freelancers & Revenue: https://www.demandsage.com/upwork-statistics/
- Business of Apps – eBay Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025): https://www.businessofapps.com/data/ebay-statistics/
- Statista – Number of active Etsy Inc. sellers from 2012 to 2024: https://www.statista.com/statistics/409374/etsy-active-sellers/
- Backlinko – Uber Statistics: How Many People Ride with Uber?: https://backlinko.com/uber-users
- Business of Apps – Depop Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025): https://www.businessofapps.com/data/depop-statistics/
- PeoplePerHour: https://www.peopleperhour.com/
- Business of Apps – Instacart Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025): https://www.businessofapps.com/data/instacart-statistics/
- Skillademia – Fiverr Statistics (2025): Users, Demographics, and Top Services: https://www.skillademia.com/statistics/fiverr-statistics/
- Airtasker 2023 Annual Report: https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20231030/pdf/05wp12q506pk6k.pdf
- Backlinko – Substack User and Revenue Statistics: https://backlinko.com/substack-users