Gen Z is dropping their jobs for freelance

[etfs]

Gen Z is reshaping the workforce, with 70% viewing freelancing as a viable career path, according to a 2023 Fiverr survey. Flexibility, passion, and control over earnings drive this shift.

Freelancers already represent 39% of U.S. workers, per Upwork’s 2022 survey, and many young professionals are jumping in early:

Gigi Robinson (24) turned health struggles into a personal brand, leading to speaking gigs, coaching, and partnerships. Her company, It’s Gigi, brought in $170K+ in 2022.

Mark Santos (23) started on Fiverr as a video editor while in college. Now, he manages 100–200 projects a month, charging up to $900 each.

Nathaniel DeSantis (26) quit a manufacturing job to pursue podcast production full-time, calling his early grind his “master’s degree.”

For many in Gen Z, freelancing isn’t a side hustle — it’s the main career.