Among teenagers in the United Kingdom, earning extra money increasingly means something other than taking a traditional weekend job.
Survey findings suggest 16- and 17-year-olds are much less likely than older people were at the same age to do work like retail shifts or paper rounds, with many instead drawn to earning cash through social media, gaming, pet care, and online resale, The Express reported.
Here's what to know
According to a NatWest Thrive survey of 2,000 teenagers and adults, only 15% of 16- and 17-year-olds currently make money from casual jobs such as clothes shop work, shelf stacking, or paper rounds.
Among adults surveyed, 35% said they had a Saturday shift or early morning job at that age.
When asked how they would most like to earn money, 44% of teenagers chose creating social media content.
Interest in running a small business was close behind at 42%. Gaming and streaming appealed to 38% of teens surveyed, and the same share said they liked the idea of dog walking or pet care.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Cooking and baking attracted 37% of respondents, matched by photography or video.
Another 35% said they would like to earn money by reselling clothes or other items online.
More background
More than half of those surveyed (56%) said they had already made extra money by selling things they no longer wanted.
Babysitting was reported by 27%, while 22% said they had charged for a skill or hobby such as art or music. Another 20% had helped in a family business, and 19% had bought items with the intention of reselling them for a profit.
On average, teens had added £389 ($514) to their pocket money through a side hustle.
Looking ahead, 80% said they want at least two different sources of income, while 34% want three or more.
The survey also found AI plays a role for some teens: 35% use it for business ideas, 15% to create social media content, and 9% to help build websites.
What can be done?
Respondents also showed skepticism about online stories of lucrative entrepreneurial efforts.
In the poll, 41% felt online content can make success look quicker than it really is, while 37% wanted entrepreneurs to be more open about how long it took to turn a profit, 36% about mistakes they made, and 35% about startup costs.
Where can I learn more?
The survey's findings also reflect a broader interest in entrepreneurial side hustles and AI-powered projects. These stories look at a 15-year-old turning conservation into a business and experts warning that AI is reshaping work.
• In Florida, a 15-year-old built a conservation project into cash by recycling discarded fishing line.
• Across multiple industries, experts say careers at risk are growing as AI automates routine work.
• Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "Godfather of AI," warned Fortune that the future of work could shift wealth upward under AI.
• Hinton also said AI may make a few people much richer while hollowing out wages.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
