Adobe Express has published new research into the UK’s side-hustle economy, pointing to a market shaped by modest additional income, tight time constraints, and strong interest in creative work. The study found that 73% of people with side hustles earn up to £500 a month on top of their regular income, while 20% generate £1,000 or more.
Interest in starting a side business remains broad. Adobe Express recorded an average of 22,200 monthly UK searches for “Side Hustles” since August 2024, and found that the creative industries are the most popular area among people considering a launch, attracting 21% of respondents. Retail and e-commerce followed on 18%, while technology and IT services, and health and wellness each drew 15%. Education and tutoring came next on 10%.
The main driver is extra income. Two-thirds of respondents, or 66%, said that earning more money was the primary reason for wanting a side hustle, while 34% said it was important that the work remained separate from their day job. The biggest barrier was time: 36% identified time management and pressure as their main concern when considering a new project.
Among people already running side hustles, the picture is one of limited but tangible gains. Adobe Express found that 72% spend up to 10 hours a week on their project, while 18% spend 20 hours or more. Overall, 64% described their side hustle as a success so far. Social media was the most effective marketing route for 35% of respondents, while 18% said networking with other entrepreneurs had helped them grow.
Income and time commitments varied sharply by sector. Information technology emerged as the most lucrative category, with 24% of people in that field earning more than £1,000 per month. Engineering and manufacturing followed on 20%, and science and pharmaceuticals on 14%. At the other end of the scale, respondents working in teacher and education roles were the most likely to earn less than £100 a month, at 54%.
Some of the better-paying categories also demanded more hours. Adobe Express found that 20% of those in information technology spend more than 20 hours a week on their side hustle, alongside 18% in engineering and manufacturing. By contrast, some sectors showed lower time demands, with 50% of respondents in law spending fewer than five hours a week, 43% in science and pharmaceuticals, and 36% in healthcare.
The sector breakdown also highlighted different operational pressures. Managing marketing and promotion was most acute in media and internet work, administrative tasks and paperwork were highest in business consulting and management, financial management was the top challenge in law and energy and utilities, and time management alongside a main job was most severe in social care.
The findings suggest side hustles remain more realistic as a supplementary income stream than a rapid route to replacement earnings, with returns shaped heavily by sector choice, available hours, and the ability to market efficiently.
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