- Remote workers are slightly more likely to have side gigs than in-person or hybrid colleagues.
- The extra time from remote work can enable more side hustles like consulting or ride sharing.
- Some data shows that employees who choose where to work are more productive.
Remote workers are more likely to have side gigs than their office-based colleagues – 34% vs. 29% – according to a new LinkedIn Workforce Confidence survey of 8,606 US professionals.
The trend toward additional income streams appears stronger among those with flexible work arrangements. While only a quarter of full-time workers reported having a side gig, the number rises to 52% for freelancers and 46% for both contractors and self-employed workers.
Side gigs include working as consultants, shuttle drivers, and rental property managers.
The higher participation of remote workers in side hustles may stem from increased time savings from not commuting. GPS data from traffic analytics company INRIX shows that supercommuting — or commuting more than 75 miles — has been on the rise in recent years. The same trend holds for trips over 40 miles to the nation’s 10 largest cities.
The higher rate of side gigs among remote workers, while small, may also stem from some evidence that productivity slows when workers are pushed back to the office.
LinkedIn cited a May 2024 workplace survey of 4,400 US employees, which found that workers who could choose where to work were more likely to exceed expectations and have better relationships with their bosses.
However, the data is complicated, as different studies of telecommuting have different conclusions. Stanford economists found 10% lower productivity for fully remote work compared to fully in-person work. Meanwhile, a separate Stanford report found that hybrid work had no effect on productivity or career advancement compared to in-person work.
Dozens of side hustlers, especially those in remote roles, have told Business Insider about their strategies for maximizing their income. Some particularly successful people said that creating and selling content on Etsy were easy ways to supplement their income while working full-time.
Some telecommuters told BI that they drive for Uber or DoorDash while working as accountants or analysts. Dozens of drivers have told BI over the past year that falling incomes and increased competition have made it challenging to earn enough, although many appreciate the flexibility to drive during their lunch breaks or before or after their shift work complete.
Both remote and in-person workers told BI that real estate side hustles have been particularly fruitful. Jesse Singh, 29, worked two nursing roles, which he used to fund his real estate company. After selling a $2.2 million property, he cut back on his nursing hours.
Some said they gave up their personal corporate roles for full-time remote positions, which allowed them to better plan their schedules and add other streams of income. Some turned their remote reselling side hustles on sites like eBay into full-time positions.
Natalie Fischer quit her corporate job in 2023 to grow her business as a financial content creator and is now bringing in over $150,000 in income in 2024. She has diversified her income through content seminars and generated cash from users and is looking to secure speaking engagements.
BI has also reported dozens of “overworked” remote workers secretly working multiple jobs to earn six-figure incomes. Many said they don’t feel guilty about working multiple remote positions, even as remote roles become fewer and harder to get.
Patrick, a millennial in California, previously told BI that because his role as a remote account manager didn’t give him enough work for an eight-hour day, he took on an additional full-time role and part-time job. freelance, bringing his earnings to nearly $200,000. .