According to Remote.co’s 2026 Financial Flexibility Report, nearly two-thirds (62%) of workers say they do not feel financially secure in their current role, while only 38% report feeling financially stable.
As a result, professionals across generations are actively building or pursuing supplemental income streams. In fact, Remote.co’s survey found two in five professionals (40%) said they have quit or seriously considered quitting their job to pursue a side hustle full time. This steady trend over 2025 signals that the side gig economy is no longer viewed as supplemental, but a strategic career choice by many workers.
“Increased cost of living, industry-wide layoffs, and economic uncertainty have consistently fueled the growth of side hustles and the rise in polyworking,” said Keith Spencer, Career Expert at Remote.co. “But the biggest difference in 2026 is that most workers, including those with traditional, full-time jobs, now view supplemental income streams as a necessity for their job and financial security.”
Side Gigs by Generation: Millennials and Gen X Lead Side Hustle Work
While interest spans generations, millennials and Gen X are driving the strongest momentum toward side jobs:
30% of millennials currently have a side hustle, the highest of any generation.
26% of Gen X workers currently have one.
Only 19% of boomers report currently having a side hustle.
Notably, boomers are also the least likely of the generations to have ever participated in side work, with 45% saying they have never had a side hustle, compared to 27% of millennials and 33% of Gen X who said the same.
Millennials and Gen X are also significantly more likely to consider leaving full-time employment for a side job:
34% of millennials have seriously considered quitting to pursue a side hustle full-time.
33% of Gen X report the same.
Only 26% of boomers have seriously considered it.
However, most workers still prioritize financial security, requiring their side hustle to nearly match their current salary before they leave their jobs. In Remote.co’s report, the majority of workers wouldn’t quit their job unless a side hustle replaced at least half of their income.
60% said the side job would need to cover 75% or more of their current income.
19% need it to replace 51-75% of their current income.
11% would quit if their side gig replaced 25-50% of their current income.
Only 10% would quit if their side job covered less than 25% of their current income.
Similarly among generations, the majority of millennials (62%), Gen X (64%), and boomers (53%) said their side hustle would need to replace at least 75% of their income before they would resign.
Side Hustle Economy: Top 10 Industries for Fully Remote Part-Time Jobs
To help workers identify the in-demand industries for flexible side hustles, Remote.co analyzed freelance, temporary, and part-time remote job postings in its database between March 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026.
Reflecting the employer demand for flexible, remote talent, particularly in roles that support digital operations, the leading industries with the most remote side jobs include:
Customer Service
Administrative
Healthcare
Education
Computer & IT
Sales
Writing
Design
Research
Marketing
For more information, please visit https://remote.co/blog/financial-flexibility-report or contact Shanna Briggs (shanna.briggs@bold.com).
Methodology: The 2026 Financial Flexibility Report surveyed more than 4,000 U.S. professionals between February 2, 2026, and February 16, 2026, examining financial confidence, employment decisions, and attitudes toward side work amid ongoing economic shifts. The sample included respondents across a range of age groups, genders, education and career levels.
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