For more and more employees, having their own business alongside their job is becoming attractive – millennials in particular are driving the trend.
Germany is becoming a nation of “side hustlers”: it is becoming more attractive for employees to build their own business on the side. According to a survey by Revolut, every second employee in this country is on the way to starting their own business. The urge for independence is particularly strong in one group.
More than one in three millennials want to start a business
As the Revolut data shows, more than one in three millennials (25 to 44 year olds) are already entrepreneurially active, i.e. 35.2 percent. The data also shows that the trend towards second careers is no longer a niche phenomenon. Of the employees surveyed, 24.6 percent are already actively generating revenue with their part-time job or intend to monetize their project in the near future.
Among other things, this trend in work behavior can be attributed to “a redefinition of the world of work” in Germany. “Entrepreneurship is no longer an exclusive path, but an ambition fueled by easy access to digital tools and AI,” said James Gibson, general manager of Revolut Business.
More and more young people want to become self-employed – these are the reasons
AI also plays a crucial role in millennials’ interest in starting a business: over 70 percent say that AI and digital tools make starting a business more accessible than ever before. AI progress has made starting a company seem feasible.
The possibility of remote work also contributed to the boom. According to Revolut, almost one in three millennials (28.2 percent) use the commuting time saved through remote work directly to build their own business.
What matters to millennials when working
The desire for autonomy is also reflected in the prioritization: over 30 percent of German employees would prefer permanent remote working to a 10 percent salary increase. According to Revolut, this urge for self-determination means that over 40 percent of those surveyed are already planning to take the step towards full independence within the next two years.
The survey was conducted online by Censuswide in December 2025. The sample included 500 employees and is representative of the working population aged 18 and over. The data was available in advance from the start-up scene.
