The gig economy has done one thing: created an industry of side hustles. The regular 9 to 5 work system is something that is just not feasible for so many of us. With no guarantee for health insurance or child care or college, some people have to take side jobs to make enough money to make ends meet. mitú brought some of these people together to show the world what side hustles are bringing money to our community.

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“Side Hustle” hosts David Alvarez and Sasha Merci talk with people who are in all kinds of unique and unexpected side hustles to bring in some extra cash. Let’s face it. Who doesn’t want to find a way to make some extra cash without picking up another office or restrictive job?

The gig economy, or freelance workforce, is something that might seem to be all-encompassing and growing quickly. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 percent of the American workforce makes most of their income from the gig economy. While it is a way for some of the population to make the necessary money to make ends meet, the current pandemic has highlighted the pitfalls of that line of work. For many, there is no guaranteed unemployment benefits and no healthcare policies provided by employers.

Latinos have made huge strides when it comes to overcoming poverty and wage gaps compared to their counterparts. Currently, the unemployment rate for Latinos in the U.S. is at a record low (before the COVID-19 pandemic that is). Unemployment rates are determined by figuring out the number of unemployed people in the population, however, there are a lot of variables. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployed people are people who do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work. It does not include people who are retired or in school as they are not employed and are not looking for employment. This cuts out a large swath of the population from unemployment statistics.

In a time when people are more aware of gig economy workers, mitú is releasing “Side Hustle” to give everyone more understanding. Some times, the jobs you find in an office are just not enough to keep you happy. There is something special about finding something you truly love and can make money off of. Watch “Side Hustle” starting May 8 and learn all about some of the best and most unique side hustles around.

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