Fast Company Daily From unemployed to self-employed: Why the switch is more common than ever
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Jan 30, 2026 A path from repeated layoffs to launching a solo business and building income from content creation. Data on the rise of side gigs and the growing independent workforce. Recent grads turning to gig work amid weak hiring. Realistic trade offs of autonomy, variable pay, and lost benefits for self-employed workers.
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Laid Off Twice, Chose Solopreneurship
- Michaela Mahoney was laid off twice in under a year and then decided to start a content-creation business full-time.
- She documented the transition on TikTok while building her solo business after two layoffs.
Accept The Hustle Of Going Solo
- Prepare for a different hustle when you transition to self-employment and build consistent skills you can sell.
- Treat self-employment as active work requiring discipline, networking, and marketing to succeed.
Solopreneurship Reflects Power Shift
- Solopreneurship is booming as a la carte specialty skills meet demand in a complex, remote, and cost-conscious world.
- The shift reflects a change in power from employers to workers amid a broken social contract.