Half of Britons regularly clock into a 'second shift', putting in 214 extra hours a year to pursue side hustles and passion projects. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 49% regularly work towards a personal goal after their day job finishes, doing so at least once a week. Meanwhile, 14% work every day from Monday to Friday.
The rise of the 5-9 economy
The average person on a second shift devotes four hours a week to projects that could shape their future. The emerging '5-9 economy' sees the typical second shift kick off between 7:00pm and 7:59pm, with 17% reporting that their most productive hours occur after officially clocking off work.
The research was commissioned by Samsung to spotlight its Galaxy Tab S12 Series, which combines long-lasting battery life with an expansive display that provides users space to learn, research, create, and pursue personal projects after hours.
Side hustles and skill-building drive the trend
Side hustles are the primary driver behind the UK's after-hours output boom, with 24% of adults currently running one alongside their main job. However, earning extra cash isn't the sole motivation, as some spend their evenings acquiring a new skill, either out of personal interest (32%) or to advance their career (23%).
Some 15% are hopeful their evening endeavours will unlock fresh career opportunities, while 12% are dedicating this time to studying for professional qualifications. Millennials are the most committed to professional development, with 31% using their evenings to build workplace skills, compared to just 11% of Gen X and 9% of Boomers.
Creative ambitions and the UK's hustle capitals
Creative ambitions are also crucial, with 16% using their evening hours to produce digital content. London has become the UK's 'hustle capital,' with 61% of residents putting in their 5–9 at least once a week, ahead of Manchester (54%) and Bristol (49%).
The second shift also has the potential to transform the first, with 15% of side-hustlers hoping their evening project will become their full-time career. Meanwhile, 12% of those studying or developing skills hope to leverage them to transition into new roles.
However, turning these ambitions into reality requires commitment: finding time (37%) and maintaining energy levels after a full workday (45%) were cited as the top challenges. Technology plays a central role in enabling the second shift, primarily through online tutorials (25%), task management apps (16%), and digital creative tools (15%).
Charlie Nordfeldt, from Samsung UK and Ireland, said: “Finishing the workday is often when personal ambitions truly take flight. Whether you are studying for a qualification, launching a new business idea, or bringing a creative project to life, those evening hours make a real difference.”
The top five side-hustling cities are London, Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, and Leicester.
