If you are a parent, guardian or employer of labour, you probably would have heard some young people (19-24 years) giving you attitude about getting real-time work. Some, at the slightest whiff of discipline “drop your job for you” and find their way out. You hear of stuff like, “I need my space”, “I can survive online”, “I can’t waste my time in the office waiting for monthly pay”, etc.
Aside the fact that getting a job with government office is hard to come by (which is not fair, actually), some Gen Zs give an impression that they’d rather work online and make good money than show up in the office even if they are begged to have it.
They cut a figure of success online and one is quick to assume that “they are alright” and, really making it online, especially when you see their nicely chosen business names, fine logos, e-flyers, ads, etc, on their social media handles. This is made worse when they see some so-called “influencers” flaunting their wealth online.
But do you, as a parent/guardian know that a large number of these starry-eyed, imaginative, budding youths are not really doing well on their online jobs? Do you really know that they need to be mentored despite their external facade? That you can’t actually afford to leave them alone? Please, watch over them, especially if you are a parent. Nurture them. Most time, the exciting, lively and bubbly persona you see online is just a show to put people off from seeing their real, true state.
MANY OF THEM ARE NOT REALLY DOING WELL ONLINE based on the following available hard facts.
1. Freelancing & Gig Work:
About 50% of Gen Z and Millennials (18-34 years old) have participated in freelance work, according to surveys from platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. However, only a smaller proportion makes substantial income.
Talented youths should be guided to get regular jobs or learn a self sustaining trade while they master the process of making good money as freelancers on a part-time basis. Once they’ve become gurus, they may then choose to go full-time.
2. Content Creation (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram):
Less than 5-10% of creators earn a sustainable income, with most making small amounts or nothing. That’s an abysmal number! However, with good mentoring (parents can help register them with gurus), they can earn more.
For example, even though a significant 46% of creators earn less than $1,000 per year, 12% of full-time creators earn $50,000 or more annually. The number of successful content creators can actually improve with good parental guidance.
Parents don’t have to be content creators but Gen Zs need to trust the native intelligence of their experienced parents and guardians rather than view them as dinosaurs.
3. E-commerce & Dropshipping:
Around 10-15% of young people have tried selling online, but only a fraction succeed long-term.
4. Crypto, Investing, and Trading:
Many try it, but only a small percentage (often less than 5%) make consistent profits. This is really not surprising but many youths don’t know. However, the older generation, from experience know.
5. Other points to note:
(i) Globally, an estimated 10-20% of youth are making at least “some money” online, but only around 5% are earning enough to consider it a primary income source.
This article is not set about to deride those who claim to make money online. Not at all. It is basically put out there to help parents and guardians understand their roles in ensuring their children and wards really make a success of it whenever they say they are working online.
Parents and guardians should also help Gen Zs adapt to the realities of life: hard work, respect for the experienced folks who know how to make money from real life work, respect for time, patience, perseverance, readiness to learn, value for vertical and horizontal relationship, etc.
Yes, the youths of today “seem to know” what they are doing but the hard truth is that only a tiny fraction of them are really, really making it online.
Perhaps a blend of the two worlds is all they need to strike a healthy balance and, I believe that for them to achieve good success and improve the numbers, parents and guardians need to seriously engage their children who claim to work and depend on online jobs.
Cheers.
References
- Forbes.com
- Harworth J., 57+ Freelance Statistics, Trends and Insights (2024).
- Twenty Creator Economy Statistics That Will Blow You Away in 2023, Influencer Marketing Hub.
* Professor A. Akinbodewa writes from Ondo City, Nigeria
