If the U.S. job market for the remaining months of 2024 is going to be anything like what we’ve witnessed over the past couple months, then it’s certainly something to be concerned about.
The U.S added just 142,000 jobs in August of this year, which fell below previous projections of 161,000 in job gains. Similarly, in June and July, the economy was down by a cumulative 86,000 jobs, in contrast to expectations by economists and analysts.
What we’re seeing here is a slowdown in the job market, and if you are a job-seeker looking for new roles, then this news is certainly disheartening. You’re likely wondering about what other means you have to make money, to support you while looking for a job, or you’ve probably thrown in the towel altogether and decided to quit job-hunting and dive straight into entrepreneurship.
With the job market being difficult and highly competitive right now, and with job availability being concentrated in certain industries such as construction and healthcare (both of which you may not be particularly keen on), it’s best to focus on building multiple streams of income externally, without reliance on traditional employment.
This provides you with more options, gives your career and personal finances more stability, develops new skills and improves your existing skill set, and also ensures that you don’t have an ever-widening gap in your employment history due to being out of a job for so long.
8 Passive Income Ideas From Home
So, what options should you consider to start making money from home and building streams of passive income?
Undeniably, one of the most popular ways to make money from home is through writing. Writing is a high-income skill because there are so many ways you can leverage it to produce multiple streams of income. Additionally, one of the most beautiful things about writing is that you don’t need much more than word processing software—many of which are free—your laptop, and a reliable Internet connection.
You can also use it to build passive income—meaning it continues to make money for you through recurring payments, royalties, and commission without you needing to put in the same extended effort.
Below are just a few examples of ways you can make money through freelance writing alone:
- Writing and self-publishing e-books on Amazon and Amazon Kindle through the KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) program.
- Starting a blog on any subject that interests you and has a high demand for readers, and monetizing it through ad content such as through Google AdSense.
- Writing product guides, product reviews, and tutorials that include affiliate links—allowing you to earn commission when a reader purchases an item or signs up for a service through your unique affiliate link.
- Creating worksheets, templates, and other printables and selling them on multiple platforms including Etsy (if you are an educator you could design these and sell these digital products on sites such as Teachers Pay Teachers, as resources for classrooms).
- Publishing articles on Medium and earning revenue through Medium’s Partner Program.
- Selling POD (print-on-demand) journals and notebooks.
- Offering your services as a freelance SEO copywriter on platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr.
- Becoming a freelance contributing writer for business blogs and industry authorities.
Although the cooling job market presents significant challenges for job-seekers, with limited opportunities in some industries, the good news is that there are alternative ways to generate income equivalent to your desired salary or at least close enough, particularly through writing and freelancing. Through exploring passive income streams such as those listed above, you can remain adaptable and resilient despite job market changes, and build long-term financial and career stability.
Source: 8 Passive Income Ideas To Make Money From Home In 2024