Beyond the Paycheque: How Gen Z Students Are Redefining Work Through Side Hustles 

When I text my classmate asking if she knows any students running their own businesses, she quickly replies with a list of Instagram handles. This abundance of student entrepreneurs isn’t limited to our university—it reflects a growing national trend. In Canada, 41 per cent of Gen Z job seekers report having a side hustle, nearly double the rate of older generations. 

More young people than ever are launching their own ventures, balancing coursework with businesses that reflect their passions, values and ambitions. 

Today’s youth face a difficult job market, often marked by part-time, precarious or low-wage work. Rising tuition fees, living expenses and economic uncertainty have made side hustles a practical strategy for many students to gain financial independence and meet basic needs. 

But for many, the motivation goes beyond money. Side hustles provide real-world experience, professional connections and creative outlets that are often missing from traditional employment and education systems. 

At McMaster University, students like Princess and Makena are part of this rising wave of entrepreneurial youth. 

Princess, a civil engineering student, operates a nail art business that she sees as more than a side hustle. “It’s a true passion that I’m committed to growing,” she says. Despite a demanding class schedule, she finds time to take on two to three clients a day. For her, entrepreneurship is a path to personal empowerment.