With no end to inflation in sight, Americans are taking to the internet to find ways to make extra cash. Residents of South Carolina, Louisiana, and Nevada are leading the hunt.
US citizens searched the web for additional income opportunities over 133k times in the last year. By comparing the 30-day and 12-month total search volumes by state, a study ranked each state’s interest in earning supplementary income.
As part of their recent merger with Thrifty Guardian, news outlet Mama Say What?! conducted the research revealing that US citizens are looking for ways to earn more money besides their primary jobs.
The study shows which states are increasingly concerned and where in the country residents are most satisfied with their current income.
States Searching for Secondary Income in the Last 30 Days
According to Mama Say What?! ‘s research, South Carolina is where the most side hustle-related queries get submitted on Google, specifically over the last 30 days.
This data is notable, as South Carolina’s interest in side hustles has only recently emerged, as this state does not appear on the top ten list for the 12-month review. This newfound interest indicates a spike in residents’ need for additional income amidst the current cost of living crisis.
South Carolina earns an aggregate score of 220, solidifying its first-place standing, while Louisiana and Nevada make second and third place with twin scores of 210.
Iowa ranks fourth with a score of 200. These top four states’ preferred search term is “side hustle ideas,” receiving the most points for this query over others like “ways to make money” or “side hustle from home.”
Fifth is the state of Kansas, with a score of 195. Oregon and Missouri secured sixth and seventh place, with scores of 194 and 184, respectively.
Very closely scored, Arizona, Ohio, and Michigan complete the top ten list, with Arizona ranking eighth at 176 points, Ohio in ninth with 175 points, and Michigan securing the tenth place slot with 173 points.
The state of Montana earns an honorable mention as the region with a current perfect score (indicating a peak in interest) for the term “side hustles” despite ranking 29th overall on the 30-day list.
Americans in the District of Columbia, Vermont, Hawaii, and North Dakota rank lowest in the country for interest in finding extra income in both the last 30 days and 12-month period.
Other states seeing spikes in side hustle-related searches include Louisiana, Nevada, Kansas, Oregon, Ohio, and Michigan, which all leap up in the standings compared to the 12-month overview.
States Searching for Secondary Income in the Last 12 Months
Appearing at the top of the 12-month list is the state of Utah, with a score of 304. This ranking is in stark contrast to its 30-day placement of 14th, with a score of only 168. Utah’s rapid decline in the rankings shows the state’s decreased interest in making additional money in the most recent month.
Utah is one of many states seeing a rapid decline in interest, with Indiana dropping from second place on the 12-month list (with a score of 299) to 24th on the 30-day list.
In third place is Missouri, with a score of 296. Following Missouri is Kentucky at 293, and Arkansas rounding out the top five with a score of 290 points.
Also appearing on the top ten list are the states of Idaho, Arizona, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, where points span from 286 to 257. Pennsylvania and Tennessee represent the states with the most significant point gap on the top ten list, with a spread of 15 points between the two.
Consistent interest in additional income sources is apparent in three key states – Missouri, Arizona, and Iowa- on both 30-day and 12-month top ten lists.
Maine and New Hampshire join the lowest-ranking states of DC, Vermont, Hawaii, and North Dakota, where residents search side hustle-related terms the least. Given that most of these states are in the country’s North, it is clear that Northern states are more satisfied with their current income levels than other states.
Side Hustles in America
Side hustles, also known as supplementary income sources, help Americans earn more without seeking a promotion or raise at their current full-time jobs.
To facilitate this study, Mama Say What?! Researchers analyzed the frequency of searches for the terms “side hustle,” “side hustle ideas,” “ways to make money,” and “side hustles from home.” The most popular of these search terms among Americans is “side hustles,” generating 50,000 searches each month. This term is far more popular than the other three search terms, with “side hustle ideas” receiving 32,000 monthly inquiries, “ways to make money” generating 28,000 searches, and “side hustles from home” with only 23,000 searches.
As Americans search for side hustle ideas, they may consider pursuing freelance careers, trying their hand at the gig economy, or looking for online options to earn extra cash. The hunt for supplementary income is likely to continue until the high inflationary period is over.
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This post South Carolina, Louisiana, and Nevada Residents in Need of Secondary Income Sources During Inflationary Period first appeared on Mama Say What.
Image Credit: Shutterstock /fizkes
Rachael Westgate is a skilled writer specializing in political and economic journalism, often employing the Associated Press (AP) style in her work. Her articles are known for their clarity, precision, and adherence to the highest journalistic standards.
