Side hustles yielding Aussies fast cash – and even a full-time job

More Australians are turning to side hustles as a way of generating additional income – sometimes up to $1000 per task. See the top 50 list and what can lead to a full-time job.

Holly Truelove and Hayley Goddard

3 min read

January 12, 2025 - 5:00AM

National News Network

Australians turning to side hustles amid rising living costs

Money

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Baking, content creating and coding have been identified as three of the best side hustles for Aussies to yield fast cash – and ultimately a full-time job.

Recruitment agents say in-demand transferable skills including “creativity, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking” have never been more sought after in a tight jobs market.

As cost of living pressures bite, a growing number of Australians are turning to side hustles, as a way of generating additional income – sometimes up to $1000 per task.

Online business platforms like Etsy, Uber, Airtasker and dropshipping outlets like AliExpress have seen an uptick in demand, with more than 50,000 tasks posted weekly for a plethora of tasks, the 50 easiest of which we can reveal today.

“Side hustles can absolutely enable Australians to build in-demand transferable skills that can support a long-term successful career,” Angela Anasis, executive general manager of talent strategy and advisory at leading recruitment agency Randstad, said.

“Beneficial side hustles in the long-term are those that are aligned to Australia’s industries experiencing sustained growth such as construction, healthcare and technology.

“(Hustles) that incorporated digital literacy, such as AI, coding, content creation and eCommerce, as well as environmental sustainability were poised for future demand,” she said.

Randstad executive general manager of talent strategy and advisory Angela Anasis. Picture: Supplied

Professor Julia Richardson of Curtin University. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

Professor Julia Richardson, of Curtin University, agreed that AI, technology and selling goods online were growing sectors, and explained that people could pick up these skills through free online tutorials, such as YouTube videos.

“We’re at this really interesting cusp now (with AI). Lots of people have heard of AI but they’re frightened of it. Now is a window of opportunity to become and expert in the best use of AI and help others with it.”

She also said there was an increased need for service jobs, such as house maintenance, gardening and cleaning.

While 70 per cent of people on Airtasker do less than five jobs a month, they can still rake in an extra $1000 in that time.

“That’s some serious extra cash for someone to make ends meet, to be able to go on a holiday, to be able to invest in a hobby,” Airtasker CEO Tim Fung said.

Executive director of Small Business Australia Bill Lang said that “an absolutely critical source of labour and skills are people that have got time and energy available outside of their normal job to fill those gaps.”

“[A successful side hustle is] a combination of how much time you have available per week towards whatever the side hustle is going to be, what skills you have that you like using, and whether you can use those in what the side hustle is,” he said.

Michael Chandola, with little JC the cavoodle, is completing a “feed my dog” task for Airtasker as owner Stephanie Cruz works on her computer. Picture: Jeff Darmanin

Last year, Sydney’s Michael Chandola made nearly $17,000 with his side hustle, completing a diverse range of jobs including feeding pets, rental inspections and deliveries.

The 26-year-old works full time as a phone operator but said Airtasker was “a way to make money, have fun and do something different”.

Bookkeeper Gena Van Der Velden, 55, has turned her passion for needlework into a side hustle creating costumes and clothing. Her needlework made her roughly $6000 extra last financial year.

“That’s for the cream of life – so you can go on holidays, it’s your extra spending money,” Ms Van Der Velden, of Melbourne, said.

Ms Anasis warned against side hustles that were dependent on fleeting consumer trends or too niche, such as dropshipping novelty products or creating content for a single social media platform such as TikTok.

“While they may offer quick financial gains as a side-hustle, they lack the depth needed for long-term employability. That said, if you can show that you are an expert in driving Tik-Tok reach and engagement, or understand the finer points of e-commerce, you might find employers ready to snap up those skills if offered,” she said.

Australians earning income outside of their main employment will need to pay tax, the Australian Taxation Office website states.

If the side hustle is a business, more steps may be required including ABN and super payments.