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Why Young Workers Are Leaving to Be Their Own Boss

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For many workers, climbing the corporate ladder isn’t the goal anymore. A new survey shows that 79% of employed Americans want to start their own businesses, and Gen Z is leading the trend. This shift is already in motion. One in eight workers plans to leave their jobs within the next 12 months, with younger generations eager to do so. They’re chasing freedom, purpose, and income on their own terms, and they’re not looking back.

Key takeaways

  • 79% of employed Americans are interested in leaving their traditional jobs to start their own business, including 1 in 8 who plan to make the leap within the next 12 months.
  • Over half of workers (53%) said influencers are more inspiring than company leadership, with Gen Z agreeing the most (58%).
  • Only 21% of employed Americans feel fully supported by their employer in pursuing professional growth, while 28% don’t feel supported at all.
  • 1 in 4 Gen Z employees say stronger mentorship or career development would make them reconsider quitting, which is the highest of any generation.
  • 1 in 3 workers say they’d need to earn at least $100,000 a year to feel confident going full-time on their own, a view most common among millennials (37%) and Gen Z (35%).

01. Who's leaving, and how soon?

Infographic showing that 79% of employed Americans want to start their own business, with Gen Z (85%) most interested. Top motivations include work flexibility (59%) and greater income potential (50%), while 46% have no specific timeline to start.

  • 79% of employed Americans would be interested in leaving their traditional jobs to start their own business, including 1 in 8 who plan to do so within the next 12 months.
    • 13% of Gen Z and 11% of millennials plan to leave within the year.
    • Employees in the marketing (19%), finance (13%), and government (13%) industries are the most likely to be planning to start their own businesses within the same time frame.
  • 1 in 8 employed Americans want to leave their traditional jobs due to concerns about AI replacing them. Employees in the education (15%), tech (14%), and finance (14%) industries are the most likely to feel this way.
  • Gen Z is the most likely to want to leave the corporate world for more income (57%), followed by 49% of millennials and 45% of Gen X.
  • Gen Z also wants more purpose: 46% want more purpose or autonomy in their work, more than Gen X (43%) and millennials (35%).
  • Gen Z is the most inspired by influencers, with 18% saying the creators they follow are a reason they want to become entrepreneurs. Only 11% of millennials and 8% of Gen X (8%) say the same.
  • 46% of employed Americans are currently working on a business or side hustle they hope to grow into their full-time income. Gen X (50%) is the most likely to say so, followed by Gen Z (47%).
  • Over half of workers (53%) believe influencers are more inspiring than company leadership, with Gen Z leading at 58%.

02. What's pushing employees out the door?

Infographic stating 42% of workers feel their employers stifle innovation, especially in finance and healthcare. Only 21% feel supported in growth, and top retention methods include higher pay (56%) and a 4-day workweek (46%).

  • Only 21% of employed Americans feel fully supported by their employer in pursuing professional growth, while 28% say they don’t feel supported at all.
  • Employees from the following industries were the most likely not to feel supported at all by their employer in pursuing professional growth:
    • Hospitality/food/beverage: 38%
    • Manufacturing: 33%
    • Retail: 31%
    • Tech: 30%
    • Healthcare: 29%
  • 1 in 4 Gen Z employees say stronger mentorship or career development would make them reconsider quitting, which is the most of any generation.

03. Confidence, cost, and the fear factor

Infographic highlighting that 62% believe the economy makes entrepreneurship harder, and 52% feel confident in their ability to start a business. A third of workers say they’d need to earn $100K annually to go full-time self-employed, especially millennials (37%) and Gen Z (35%).

  • Top reasons why employees are hesitant to leave their jobs and go out on their own:
    • Financial instability: 71%
    • Fear of failure: 53%
    • Health insurance: 41%
    • Lack of business knowledge or skills: 33%
  • 1 in 3 workers say they would need to bring in at least $100,000 a year to feel confident going full-time on their own. This view is most common among millennials (37%) and Gen Z (35%).

04. Methodology

We surveyed 1,004 employed Americans to explore what they are thinking about entrepreneurship and their future career plans. The generational breakdown is as follows:

  • Gen Z: 27%
  • Millennials: 42%
  • Gen X: 21%
  • Baby boomers: 10%

The data was collected in April 2025.

05. About SideHustles.com

SideHustles.com is all about turning your skills into cash. Whether you’re just starting or looking to boost your hustle, our site offers trusted advice from people who’ve made it work. We also rate gig economy apps with fair, unbiased rubrics so that you can choose the best ones for your needs.

06. Fair use statement

You’re welcome to use this data for noncommercial purposes, provided you include a link back to the original page and credit SideHustles.com as the source.

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