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Side Hustle Economy Report 2026:

Nearly One in Three Adults Turn to Extra Work as
Costs Rise

The belief in the idea of turning a hobby into income is dwindling as people are facing a harsher reality. Rising living costs and economic uncertainty are forcing people with full-time jobs to seek ways to supplement their monthly income. A recent Omnisend survey reveals that almost one-third of consumers in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia currently have a side hustle. While their individual earnings are modest, collectively they generate tens of billions of dollars every month, reshaping the familiar norms of earning, spending, and achieving financial security.

At a Glance: Key Findings
  • 28% of Americans, 25% of Brits, 31% of Canadians, 33% of Australians currently have a side hustle. Four-in-five or more in each country cite financial reasons, such as needing extra money for bills.
  • 51% of Americans, 67% of Brits, 53% of Canadians, and 41% of Australians earn up to $500 per month from their side hustle.
  • Nevertheless, the combined monthly earnings from side hustles amount to $84.1 billion in the US. It’s £8.5 billion in the UK, $9.9 billion in Canada, and $10.1 billion in Australia.
  • The most popular type of side hustle is ecommerce, with 41% of respondents involved in the US, 48% in the UK, 48% in Canada, and 47% in Australia.
  • eBay is the most popular platform among online sellers in the US (49%) and the UK (51%), while Facebook Marketplace leads in Canada (53%) and Australia (54%).
  • 86% of Americans, 92% of Brits, 91% of Canadians, and 94% of Australians spend less than 20 hours a week on their side hustle, with 5-9 hours being the most common range.

Why Are People Engaging In
Side Hustles?

USA
UK
Canada
Australia

28% of surveyed Americans currently have a side hustle or some other secondary income stream. The numbers are similar in the UK, Canada, and Australia, with 25%, 31%, and 33% of people engaging in side hustles, respectively. Notably, half of them (49% in the US, 56% in the UK, 50% in Canada, and 44% in Australia) were started in the past year.

The main reasons are financial, as highlighted by 80% of respondents in America, 83% in the UK, 85% in Canada, and 80% in Australia. People most often require more money for their bills to pay off debt, to save for a specific goal, to mitigate the risks associated with insufficient pay, or job insecurity. Only 8-10% across markets say that they are pursuing a personal passion or trying to turn a hobby into a business.

The average amount of money that a typical side hustle provides is not that high. 51% of Americans, 67% of Brits, 53% of Canadians, and 41% of Australians report earning up to $500 a month. By comparison, 33% of Americans, 16% of Brits, 25% of Canadians and 40% of Aussies earn $1000 or more from their side hustle.

Despite relatively low individual numbers, the total amount of income from side hustles is substantial. On average, it reaches $84.1 billion monthly in the U.S. (slightly up from $83.1 billion since last year), £8.5B in the UK (down from £12.5B last year), $9.9B in Canada (slightly down from $10.2B), and $10.1B in Australia (up from $7.8B).

Overall, around 70% of people across all countries say that they are either somewhat or very satisfied with their side hustle income. Additionally, around four-in-five people in all countries say that they will definitely or probably continue with their extra work in the near future.

Studies such as the one conducted by Goldman Sachs in November 2025 repeatedly show that side hustles act as a financial buffer during labor market stress. The analysis showed that hours worked on gig platforms increased more in 2025 in metropolitan areas where payroll growth slowed, suggesting workers turned to gig work to cushion negative labor market outcomes.

Expert insight

Inflation may have cooled on paper, but everyday expenses remain stubbornly high. The cost of living is an issue not only for the working class but for the middle class as well. An extra $200-$500 a month can significantly lower the financial and moral pressure by helping to cover groceries, utilities, or debt payments, making even low-earning side hustles feel worthwhile.

Marty Bauer
Omnisend’s Senior Ecommerce Expert
How much do you earn per month from your side hustle after taxes and expenses?
USA
UK
Canada
Australia

The Most Popular Types of
Side Hustles: Ecommerce Is
at the Top

What type of side hustles do you have?
USA
UK
Canada
Australia

The survey shows that around nine out of ten people in all four countries dedicate up to 20 hours a week to their side hustle, with 5-9 hours being the most common range. They typically employ their skills by freelancing and creating content, or deliver food to make extra money. Handyman, tutoring, and house cleaning services are also popular.

However, it is ecommerce that emerges as the most popular form of making extra money. 41% of Americans, 48% of Brits, 48% of Canadians, and 47% of Australians with side hustles are actively selling or reselling products online. The most popular types of products respondents sell include:

  • Handmade or custom goods (26% in the US, 19% in the UK, 23% in Canada, 22% in Australia)
  • Vintage or second-hand items (18% in the US, 38% in the UK, 27% in Canada, 20% in Australia)
  • Various digital products (16% in the US, 10% in the UK, 10% in Canada, 17% in Australia)

The data shows that when it comes to selling products, people use a wide variety of different platforms. Their popularity depends highly on regional differences: eBay is the top platform in the US and the UK. In Australia, it’s competing for the pole position with Facebook Marketplace. The latter one is also dominating the Canadian market. There are also regional outliers. For example, Vinted is a major player in the UK market.

Which platforms do you use to sell products?
USA
UK
Canada
Australia
Expert insight

The rising popularity of e-commerce is not surprising. Freelancing, delivering food, or creating content requires significant investments both in time and effort, while ecommerce is relatively low-risk and less time-consuming. It doesn’t require specialized skills or major upfront investment, but most importantly, it offers flexibility, making it the easiest starting point for people looking to earn extra

Marty Bauer
Omnisend’s Senior Ecommerce Expert
Conclusion

As the cost of living continues to increase due to food inflation, energy market volatility, and disruptions in the supply chain, side hustles and additional income are slowly becoming a necessity. Side hustles serve the main mission of relieving financial pressure and helping not to go into debt. In this climate, ecommerce emerges as the most popular choice, primarily because of how easy it is to start out, as well as how little time and effort it requires.

Methodology

The survey was commissioned by Omnisend and conducted by Cint in March 2026. A total of 1,370 respondents in the U.S., 1,084 in the UK, 1,029 in Canada, and 1,028 in Australia took part in the survey. Quotas were placed on age, gender, income, and place of residence to achieve a nationally representative sample among users. The margin of error is +/-3 percent.

Monthly side hustle economy estimates were calculated using three factors: the percentage of adults with a side hustle, estimated average monthly side hustle earnings, and national adult population data. Average earnings were estimated using weighted averages based on reported income brackets, excluding “prefer not to say” responses.


FAQ

How common are side hustles in 2026? + -

Side hustles are very popular, with 28% of Americans, 25% of Brits, 31% of Canadians, and 33% Australians currently having a side hustle.

What percentage of Americans, Brits, Canadians, and Australians have a side hustle for financial reasons? + -

Money is the primary reason why people engage in side hustles to begin with. 80% of Americans, 83% of Brits, 85% of Canadians, and 80% of Australians cite financial reasons as their main motivator.

How much money do side hustlers earn per month on average? + -

While 40% to 50% of people earn less than $500 per month from their side hustles, the combined earnings are significant. Side hustlers generate $84.1B every month across the U.S., £8.5B in the UK, $9.9B in Canada, and $10.1B in Australia.

What are the most popular types of side hustles in 2026? + -

The most popular side hustle is selling products online. 41% of Americans, 48% of Brits, 48% of Canadians, and 47% Australians engage in e-commerce. Freelancing, content creation, and delivery services are also popular.

Which platforms do people use most for selling products online as a side hustle? + -

eBay, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace are the most popular around the world. eBay is leading the market in the US and the UK. In Australia, it competes for the number one position with Facebook Marketplace, which in turn is dominating the Canadian market. However, there are some regional differences. For example, Vinted is a major source of income for side hustlers in the UK.

How many Americans, Brits, Canadians, and Australians sell products online as a side hustle? + -

Of those Americans, Brits, Canadians, and Australians who are trying to earn additional income, 48%, 54%, 55% and 54% respectively are selling products online.




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