A growing number of workers are turning to "skill stacking" as a way to enhance their income and build financial resilience amid concerns about job security in an era of advancing artificial intelligence (AI). The concept, which involves combining existing skills with new ones to generate additional revenue streams, has gained traction particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent expansion of AI technologies.
A recent study conducted by Airtasker found that nearly half of workers—49 percent—fear that AI could impact their jobs within the next five years. Furthermore, 56 percent anticipate needing to change roles or careers as a result of technological shifts. In response to these concerns, 46 percent of respondents already engage in income-generating activities outside their primary employment, while nearly two-thirds of those not yet doing so are considering it. Supporting this trend, Fiverr’s latest Next Gen Of Work survey revealed that 57 percent of young people believe traditional single-source employment will become obsolete, with multiple income streams expected to become the norm.
Tim Fung, founder of Airtasker, said the rise of AI is altering not only job functions but also how individuals approach their careers. “People aren’t necessarily ghosting their employer, they’re ghosting the old idea that one job or one career will provide long-term security,” Fung said. He emphasized that while AI will transform many industries, it also underscores the importance of uniquely human skills. “The future belongs to adaptable people, and skill stacking is helping workers build the resilience and flexibility they’ll need for the years ahead,” he added.
Examples of successful skill stacking include individuals like Kieran Nagle, a former corporate employee who left his role in 2007 to focus on assembling flat-pack furniture. Operating under the name Webuildyourflatpacks, Nagle, 44, from West Drayton, London, now earns more than £3,000 monthly through his side business, gaining wider recognition including a feature on ITV’s This Morning. He highlighted that skills often undervalued by individuals can hold significant monetary value in the marketplace. “There’s a real satisfaction in helping people and getting paid,” he noted.
On average, those engaged in skill stacking earn approximately £1,777 per year from secondary sources. Popular supplementary jobs include freelance administrative work, pet-sitting, and dog-walking. However, trades such as electrical work and plumbing offer higher earning potential, with demand for freelance plumbers increasing by 46 percent and electrical services by 34 percent year-over-year. The range of additional skills can also be unconventional. For example, AJ Hubbins, 23, from Salford, has earned £600 simply by queuing for customers at pop-up stores and special retail events. “Queueing is a real service,” Hubbins said, explaining that time constraints prompt some people to pay others to hold their place.
As economic and technological changes continue to reshape the workforce, skill stacking appears to be an emerging strategy for workers seeking greater financial stability and adaptability.