Nearly 1 in 4 Canadians and half of Gen Z have a side hustle, survey finds
Top line
A recent survey reveals that nearly a quarter of Canadians and half of Gen Z maintain side hustles primarily to combat living costs and debt, highlighting both financial necessity and hidden entrepreneurial ambition.
Summary
A recent Ipsos survey conducted for Ownr reveals that nearly one in four Canadians—and nearly half of Gen Z—currently maintain a side hustle, largely driven by the high cost of living, income supplementation, and debt repayment. While many of these secondary jobs stem from financial stress, they also uncover significant entrepreneurial ambition, with a subset of workers aiming to transition into full-time business ownership. However, participants frequently encounter challenges regarding business incorporation, legal requirements, and a notable confidence gap particularly among women regarding formal registration.
Highlights
- Nearly one in four (23 per cent) of Canadians report having a side hustle, dedicating an average of 13 hours per week to their secondary work.
- An additional 24 per cent of Canadians are considering starting a side hustle soon, bringing the total interested or involved to 47 per cent.
- Gen Z Canadians show the highest participation, with 46 per cent currently maintaining a side hustle and 29 per cent considering turning it into a full-time business.
- Primary motivations for side hustles include supplementing regular income (39 per cent), coping with the rising cost of living (33 per cent), and paying down debt (26 per cent).
- Jordan Casey, CEO of Ownr, notes that these secondary jobs often reveal hidden entrepreneurial ambitions, with 19 per cent of respondents likely to transition to full-time business ownership.
- Many side hustlers face administrative hurdles, as 40 per cent are unsure about incorporation and 40 per cent lack understanding of legal startup requirements.
- A confidence gap exists regarding business registration, with 58 per cent of women knowing when to register compared to 69 per cent of men.
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