Youth leverage their skills by turning to side gigs

Many young people in China are leveraging their talents and skills to broaden their professional horizons by turning to side gigs for a more rewarding life and career.

Those who are finding that regular full-time jobs no longer meet their financial goals or align with their personal aspirations are creating other opportunities by merging passion with purpose, demonstrating that side jobs can lead to enriching experiences and enhanced personal fulfillment.

Beijing resident and video producer Zhao Chengzhu, 30, has turned his passion for music into a robust side hustle. Thanks to years of efforts to hone his skills as a choral instructor, he now provides vocal training and facilitates choral practice in universities, companies and organizations to prepare people for competitions or performances. This side business can generate a monthly income of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400).

"Engaging in activities you love alleviates daily stress, brings a deep sense of accomplishment and creates a rewarding balance between work and personal fulfillment," Zhao said.

According to the 36Kr media platform, which surveyed 1,941 young employees, 44.7 percent have experience with side jobs, and over 50 percent expressed interest in finding one. Notably, nearly 40 percent of the respondents' side hustles are related to their primary jobs.

Over 80 percent of young people favor online opportunities for these additional jobs. Self-media leads the way as the most popular work category, with e-commerce, street vending and small-scale retail, freelance writing, video editing and voice-over work rounding out the top five, the survey report said.

In Jingdezhen, known as China's "porcelain capital" and located in Jiangxi province, 35-year-old Qiu Xingzhu runs a street vendor business with her husband outside their regular work hours, operating primarily on weekends on the popular Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue.

"Our ceramic products are becoming increasingly popular among tourists and other customers, with many coming to Jingdezhen specifically for our items," she said. "As a result, we often find ourselves selling until 2 or 3 am."

Qiu, a graduate of the esteemed Jingdezhen Ceramic University, works in design during the weekdays.

Operating a street vendor business comes with relatively low costs as there are no store rental fees, Qiu noted. She said that the market attracts a great many art students, ceramics enthusiasts and master potters, fostering a vibrant environment for the exchange of insights and experience.

Many side hustle vendors have adapted to the digital landscape by promoting and selling their work through livestreaming and social media, broadening their reach.

Wang Xianbin, a professor of economics at Jinan University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, attributes the rise of side gigs largely to the rapid growth of the digital economy, emerging technologies and platform-based businesses.

The employment landscape has become more flexible and diverse, providing young people with a wealth of potential flexible job opportunities, but this also means they may face intensified job competition and greater career development instability, Wang added.

The government and online platforms should actively support the accelerating side hustle trend, said Tan Youchao, a professor of management at Jinan University. Tan noted that online platforms can innovate to provide more high-quality opportunities for young people, and that the government should offer appropriate support and policy guidance.

Experts say that side gigs are here to stay.

"As digital platforms continue to evolve, we will see more young people leveraging technology to create flexible, part-time jobs that align with their interests and skills," Wang said. "This empowers individuals and contributes to the broader economy."

Looking ahead, Qiu aims to continue her work on ceramics and transform her creativity from a side hustle into a full-time venture.

XINHUA