Side Hustles Soar as Americans Grapple With Rising Cost of Living

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Side hustles are surging because more Americans say their regular paychecks no longer cover everyday expenses like rent, groceries, and bills. Surveys cited in recent reporting show about 40% of Americans now have a side hustle, and many say they couldn’t maintain their current lifestyle without that extra income.

Why it’s happening

Rising living costs and inflation are the biggest drivers, with wages not keeping up fast enough for many households. Reporting also notes that side gigs are no longer just for “extra money” — for a lot of people, they’ve become a financial necessity.

What people are doing

Common side hustles include gig work, delivery, freelancing, selling goods online, and flexible shift-based jobs. Experts say the appeal is that these jobs can be started quickly and often on a schedule that works around a full-time job.

The downside

The tradeoff is burnout: many side hustlers are putting in 10 or more hours a week on top of their day jobs. That extra workload can strain relationships, cut into rest, and leave people with less time to advance in their main careers.