- Adobe Express has spoken to Brits who are retired and unemployed with side hustles to find out which industries are the most lucrative, the challenges people face and to inspire those looking to set one up.
- Over half (53%) of those who are retired or unemployed say that their side hustle is a success.
- Over four fifths (81%) of retired or unemployed Brits started their side hustle to generate extra income.
Many people in the UK are seeking to make a fresh start, and for many, changing their career path is a common goal. With an average of 22,200 monthly searches for “Side Hustles” since August 2024*, it’s clear that many are looking to earn some extra income alongside their regular job. Adobe Express has conducted an extensive study*, to discover how successful running a side hustle can be, alongside the industries that are the most attractive for those looking to start a new venture.
Additionally, they spoke to Pascoe Demarco Sawyers, from Wembley, London, who retired in 2022 from his job at Brent Council, and now runs a successful side hustle as a wedding DJ, alongside selling vinyl records, which tops his income up by £2,500 each month.
Pascoe talks through his side hustle, how successful he has been, alongside the opportunities that extra income has given him.
“I retired in March 2021 from my job at Brent Council. I was head of strategy and partnerships. I started by buying and selling vinyl records initially, because of my love for music. I had then realised that I had amassed quite a lucarative collection and that there was a huge demand for the records I owned – currently, I own over 30,000 and shortly after I retired I built a garden house extension to store them.
“I also started working as a wedding DJ before I retired, but expanded the business post retirement. Now, I DJ more frequently and since I retired, I’ve performed at over 100 weddings, birthday parties, and corporate events. Last year I expanded the business and I offer photo pods.”
“Currently, I make £2,500 per month from selling vinyl records and working as a wedding DJ and my side hustle really helps me to pay bills and is a fantastic addition to my pension. However, more importantly, it gives me an opportunity to travel. I DJ abroad and performed in Malta and Lanzarote last year.”
When it comes to starting a side hustle in retirement, Pascoe shared some essential top tips.
“My top tip for starting a side hustle would be to choose something that you love doing anyway. That way, it never really feels like work. I’m also keen on using my side hustle to help others, I published a book called Top Ten Tunes to help other wedding DJs in my industry.”
“I market myself on my weekly radio show, DJ Pascoe’s Black Wax, and on my Instagram page where I post about Reggae lyrics – I also get DJ work from my website and shooting promotional videos.”
When it comes to Brits who are retired or unemployed, Adobe Express spoke to those already balancing side hustles to uncover their secrets, along with those who want to start a new venture.
The top sectors people who want to start a business in:
For people who are retired or unemployed and haven’t yet launched a side hustle but are eager to do so, creative industries such as art, design, or photography are the most attractive areas to explore. Over a quarter (38%) of people expressed a strong interest in venturing into this space, whether that’s offering their skills up on a freelance basis, or selling their work on marketplaces, many are drawn to tapping into opportunities outside of traditional roles.
Furthermore, 19% expressed a strong interest in exploring retail and e-commerce opportunities, whether that’s selling goods through platforms like Etsy, or Depop, or setting up their own online store.
Other industries that Brits are keen to explore include education and tutoring (8%), health and wellness (7%), and hospitality (7%).
Why retirees and those who are unemployed want to set up a side hustle:
Whilst only 2% of respondents expressing that they will definitely turn their side hustle into a full time business, almost a third (30%) said that they would consider it, depending on the success. But, what are the main reasons why people are setting up a side gig?
For over four-fifths (81%), the reason why they have set up a side hustle is to generate extra income. With the continued cost of living rising, many are looking for ways to supplement their earnings, whether it’s to build a financial safety net or to help save for future goals.
Furthermore, 40% said that they set up their side hustle as a way to pursue a passion or hobby, showing that for many, a side venture isn’t just about financial gain.
With 10% of people having flexibility in their schedules to allow them to explore opportunities, other reasons why those who are retired or unemployed are setting up side gigs include using it as an opportunity to transition to self-employment (7%) and to gain business experience and knowledge (4%).
How much are people earning from their side hustle?
Over half (53%) of Brits who are retired or unemployed and have set up a side hustle would agree that it has been a success, whilst for over a third 37% it is too early to tell. For 31% of people, between five and 10 hours is all that is needed each week to maintain their hustle, whilst over a third (35%) say that they spend less than five hours a week working on their side gig.
For most, it seems as though they are reaping the rewards of their side hustle. Almost a quarter (21%) say that they typically bring in between £100 and £500 each month from their venture, whilst 4% make between £500 and £1,000. Furthermore, over half (62%) earn up to £100 each month, and for a lucky few, 1% have made their side hustle an extremely lucrative gig, making more than £1,000 each month.
The resources that have supported people in their side hustle growth:
When looking into the factors that have fuelled the growth of side hustles, almost half (46%) said that the invaluable support from family and friends helped their side hustle gain momentum.
In addition, 10% said that turning to social media platforms for marketing has helped gain brand awareness.
Other valuable resources include the use of business tools such as software and apps (9%), online courses or training (4%), and networking with other entrepreneurs (4%).
For more information on how to set up a side hustle, or how to improve a current side hustle venture, visit Adobe Express’s blog here.