Generation A earns millions with side hustles, calling into question the value of college degrees

Recent data from a US earnings report shows that Gen A is earning millions of dollars with side jobs, thanks to MeinMMO for calling it out. It’s no secret that these days, kids are not choosing the classic career goals. Most would rather be content creators. Which makes sense, considering how much more present content creators are in their world compared to other careers. Not to mention how glamorous it can look. Classic careers are not as attainable or sustainable, so even from a young age, new generations are becoming entrepreneurial.

Gen A is reconsidering college education in favor of lucrative online side hustles

There are plenty of examples of Gen Z influencers and content creators who have become millionaires. Charli D’Amelio rose to fame from her popular dance videos on TikTok and is estimated to have a net worth of $23 million. Similarly, Addison Rae has turned popularity on TikTok into a career as a musical artist and actress and is estimated to have a net worth of $15 million. When there are role models like this out there, it’s easy to see why some younger generations are questioning the value of a college education.

Especially in the United States, a college education can feel more like a roll of the dice than a sure thing. College debt in the U.S. is in the trillions of dollars, according to the Department of Education. When young people see these statistics and see hundreds of people making millions creating content and using side hustles, it can seem like an equally risky option. At first, I might have said that this is an unreasonable expectation, but some data seems to suggest it’s more reasonable than you might think.

According to data from the US online earnings report, nearly half of Gen A is earning income through online side hustles, averaging double the federal minimum wage per hour. Gen A includes people born between the years 2010 and 2024, sometimes referred to as Gen Alpha. These people have grown up entrenched in the internet, watching all kinds of people rise to fame and fortune through online side hustles. It’s hard to argue that earning a decent income from YouTube or TikTok is that much more difficult than career dreams from when I was a kid, like becoming an astronaut or being a mailman.

To be clear, becoming a millionaire is still unlikely for the average person. According to the Institute of German Business, only slightly more than 10% of influencers earn more than $100 thousand annually. But there’s no denying the disillusionment of the younger generations. Earning enough income with a traditional career is becoming increasingly difficult. Buying a house, retirement, and job security are all things that were once expected but are not anymore. It’s easy to see the appeal of doing something that you love instead.

• YouTube
• TikTok