Gen Z youth spend too much time chasing the “get rich quick” scheme while finding their primary job boring.
A series of studies have found that the generation admits to being less ambitious, but young people complain that their elders make things difficult for them.
According to new research, millions of Gen Zers spend their days ‘chasing an easy fix’ instead of working hard at their primary job.
James McNeil, 37, the founder of the Leicestershire car company Ready2Leasesaid it was a “given” that people with side jobs would focus more on that than on their primary job.
He told MailOnline: ‘I had a few lads who had other things going on. One of them was also a music producer, the other made oven gloves.
Do you have a side job – or does your staff have a second job? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk
Cyd Ashbridge, 25, (pictured) is a senior account manager at a PR agency. In her spare time she runs a sustainable fashion brand called Cydsline
The University of Durham graduate told MailOnline that criticism of Gen Z was ‘unfair’ because ‘as a generation we are the hardest working people I know’
Aisha Dowlut, 27, (pictured) is another young person with a part-time job. She works for the NHS as a senior house officer at a major trauma centre. In her spare time, she works at her side job, a micro bakery called The Sweetest Tooth
He now supports her as she turns her love for baking sweet treats into a side income
‘I think that is partly due to the work-from-home culture.
“They see that as, ‘I can pretend to work and also do a side job to make some more money.’
‘Anyone who starts a side hustle starts it because he wants to do it in the long term.
‘I did the same. I started a business in 2020 while employed so I could leave that job in 2023.
‘It’s not a fear, it’s a given. You only start a side business if you do your best.’
Research by VistaPrint found that the majority of young people with a part-time job were more passionate about their own company than about their full-time job. Just under a fifth indicate that they find their full-time job ‘boring’.
Meanwhile, a McDonald’s survey found that almost a third of Gen Z youth admitted they have become less ambitious.
Yet the same survey found that more than three-quarters felt that society did not view them positively.
Another report from Dear real estate agents This week, the “most damaging personal finance trend” on TikTok—a social media used by many GenZers—mentioned the “side hustle.”
It said side hustles were presented in TikTok videos as part of “lazy ways to get rich” or “do nothing and make money” concepts.
According to the report, some side hustle videos had as many as eight million views and attracted “increasing numbers of naive viewers, eager to make easy money by doing almost nothing.”
James McNeil, 37, founder of Leicestershire car company Ready2Lease, said it was a ‘given’ that people with side jobs would focus on that more than their primary job. Pictured: Cyd with part of her clothing line
VistaPrint research has found that the majority of young people with part-time jobs are more passionate about their own business than their full-time job
However, one Gen Z with a side hustle said Gen Z was being treated harshly.
Cyd Ashbridge, 25, is a senior account manager at a PR agency. In her spare time she runs a sustainable fashion brand called Cydsline.
She told MailOnline that criticism of Gen Z was ‘unfair’ because ‘as a generation we are the hardest working people I know’.
Cyd added: “People can work hard and do something different to achieve their dreams.
“My friends in Gen Z work really hard.”
After leaving Durham University, Cyd started her business just before lockdown in 2020, when she was 21.
She told MailOnline she wanted to ‘make a difference’ and ‘just do my bit for the planet’ by fighting against fast fashion.
She said: “I strongly believe that people have the ability to change the world with the power of their wallets.
“It’s nice to have something that’s just a hobby.”
She added: ‘I have made money with my hobby.
‘As a generation we really want to do well. We are very happy that we are growing up in this time.’
She said that with her generation’s ability to think, they can “be the best self you can be.”
Aisha Dowlut found her passion for baking after learning from her grandfather as a child
Aisha Dowlut, 27, is another young person with a part-time job.
She works for the NHS as a senior house officer at a major trauma centre.
In her spare time, she works at her side job called a micro bakery The sweetest tooth.
She told MailOnline: ‘There are a lot of people who have to work two jobs, but I certainly don’t have to do this.
‘I do this because I want to. It’s something I started as an online thing to document [what] I have been doing.
‘My micro bakery keeps me from burning out. [It’s] a way to relax.’
She said her work in the NHS would always take priority, especially if she was called to an emergency, and said her bosses were aware of her sideline activities.
Mr McNeill said Gen Z still had a role to play in the job market, but warned young people against thinking that get-rich-quick schemes were easy to obtain.
He said: ‘Young people need to be educated about the truth behind these very, very unique success stories.’
Rianne Rennalls, 24, is a youth worker who uses McDonald’s fast food chains to meet Gen Z kids.
Youth worker Rianne Rennalls, 24, (pictured) said many Gen Zers she encountered had a ‘lack of hope’
She said Gen Z youth she encountered had a “lack of hope” and “imposter syndrome.”
‘They have no idea what they want to do in the future.
‘McDonald’s [has] assisted. They have given us a safe place and shown the young people that there are other options.
‘We have to give [young people] more support.
She said many young people flocked to McDonald’s after school to meet their friends.
McDonald’s website states that anyone can apply for a job at the chain, even if he or she has no qualifications.
Yet Rianne was happy that the chain also offered work experience to some of the young people who hung out in the restaurants, although she was not sure whether the chain paid them.
The chain has launched an initiative that will connect all its restaurants linked to youth centers and fund 500 youth work qualifications.
Rianne added: ‘We want to be the best [young people’s] ambition. It inspires them.’