As Australians continue to grapple with the cost-of-living, many Australians are looking for ways to grow their income.
Some people are working more than one job. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 6.7% of employed people (974,000 people) were multiple job-holders (source: ABS, March 2024).
Others are starting their own side hustle, turning their hobbies, passions, or skills into a money-making gig they can do in their spare time.
NAB Executive of Business Direct and Small Business Krissie Jones said side hustles can offer both financial and personal growth.
“There are many reasons why people choose to start a side hustle, and it’s not always just about the money. While extra cash is great, side hustles can also help you build skills, explore passions, and open doors to new opportunities you never knew existed,” she said.
“Side hustles can kickstart your entry into the world of business by providing a lower risk environment for you to test your ideas, develop skills and gain invaluable experience.”
“A lot of Australians are seeing most of their pay going towards the ‘boring’ stuff or essentials like groceries and bills. After that, there’s not always a lot left for the fun stuff. That’s where the side hustle comes in.”
Whether you’re looking for something creative, tech-savvy, or hands-on, there’s a side hustle out there for everyone.
Here are five in-demand side hustles in-demand for 2025 and beyond:
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Video editing
If you’re a post-production whizz, the world’s your oyster. Whether you create your own YouTube channel or Instagram account to generate passive income from ads and sponsor deals, or edit video content for other businesses, you could be in for quite the pay check.
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Freelance writer
Turn your way with words into cash. Freelance platforms like Fiverr or Upwork are great places to start finding gigs, whether you’re writing blog posts, SEO articles, social media posts or product descriptions.
The best part? You can work remotely and set your own rates, depending on your level of expertise in particular areas. Glassdoor estimates you could earn between $14 – $43 per hour. Keep an eye on LinkedIn, opens in new window for opportunities and focus on building your network to land higher paying gigs as you build a portfolio of work.
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Gardening services
Got a green thumb? Offer gardening services like planting, and general yard maintenance. There’s always a high demand for these services, plus it pays well at more than $30 an hour and you can set your own rates. It’s also flexible and is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise while earning cash.
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Selling digital products
If you’ve got design, online advertising, and niche research skills, you could be selling digital products like templates, prints or eBooks online. Once created, digital products can be sold repeatedly without much extra effort, making it a great way to earn passive income.
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Personal fitness training
The average hourly pay for a personal trainer in Australia is estimated to be $32 per hour. So if you love fitness and exercise, becoming a personal trainer by helping others reach their fitness goals, helping them with creating personalise fitness routines and schedules could be just the right side hustle for you. It’s relatively easy to become certified via online personal fitness training schools, developing your experience first by offering sessions to friends or family, and through social media.
If you have another job, it’s important to make sure any work on your side hustle isn’t done on your existing work laptop or during work time. It’s also a good idea to check your existing employer’s policies on side hustles or ‘moonlighting’ and make sure you avoid any potential conflicts of interest that might arise.
NAB has put together a list of the Top 50 easy side hustle ideas you can start now. Discover the full list and advice on how to start your own business on the NAB website.
