Keke Palmer Explains Why Side Hustles Are ‘Necessary’ For ‘Autonomy’

Keke "keep a bag" Palmer is an advocate for side hustles and is explaining why they're a "necessary" step toward "personal power."

Keke “keep a bag” Palmer is an advocate for side hustles and is explaining why they’re a “necessary” step toward “personal power.”

The actress/TV personality was on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday, Dec. 22, describing her views on having more than one stream of income. For Palmer who acts, sings, dances, hosts, and produces, “depending on one source of income” leads to being controlled by an outside force or entity.

“Thoughts on side hustles and multiple streams of revenue? I feel like they are necessary and the only way to create a sense of personal power in the work place,” she wrote.

“It would be nice to have one job but I feel like depending on one source of income leaves you with zero autonomy.”

Thoughts on side hustles and multiple streams of revenue?

I feel like they are necessary and the only way to create a sense of personal power in the work place. It would be nice to have one job but I feel like depending on one source of income leaves you with zero autonomy.
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) December 22, 2023

Many agreed with Palmer and offered their take on the discussion which included advice on managing a side hustle and a career.

“For us regular corporate workers, be careful who you share your hustle and other job details with,” one person wrote. “Employers may not support you having multiple streams of income.”

“I think the economy and capitalism have forced us into having to turn hobbies and things we enjoy, into side hustles,” added someone else. “Having a side hustle is great to have extra income but it’s gotten to the point of necessity and it takes the joy out of what you do. It’s a sad reality we’re in.”

A 2023 report from LinkedIn, citing a survey by LendingClub and PYMNTS.com, estimates that more than 50% of the U.S. has at least one side gig, via Yahoo Finance. It also cites the 62% of people making over $100,000 a year who have resorted to more than one income.

An April 2023 Bankrate survey of 2,505 U.S. adults found that 53% of Gen Zers have a side hustle and 40% of Gen Xers do. Of those, 44% with side hustles feel they’ll always need one.

Many factors are at play when it comes to the rise in necessary side hustles including inflation, workers being underpaid, and a weakening job market, CNBC reports. Keke Palmer is clearly on to something by bringing the conversation to social media.