For many South Africans, the traditional 9 to 5 no longer represents the ultimate career goal. Instead, a growing number of people are envisioning a future where they make the decisions, set their own schedule, and build businesses on their own terms.
Latest findings released by Remitly South Africa ranks among the countries with the strongest appetite for self-employment globally, with 92.7% of respondents saying they would prefer to be their own boss rather than work for someone else.
This figure puts South Africa second in the international rankings behind Kenya and ahead of Morocco, India and the United States.
The study, which surveyed more than 5,000 people in 28 countries, comes at a time when side hustles, freelancing and online entrepreneurship have become increasingly visible in South Africa's social media landscape.
From township food businesses and TikTok creators to online clothing brands and digital freelancers, many South Africans are looking for alternative ways to earn income amid ongoing economic pressures and a highly competitive job market.
While financial success is often linked to entrepreneurship, the survey shows that the motivation runs deeper than income alone.
Respondents said the biggest attraction behind self-employment was freedom and greater control over how they work, followed by flexibility and a healthy work-life balance. Interestingly, earning more money is ranked lower on the list.
More than 84% of respondents said that social media makes self-employment appear more attractive than it actually is, while many also felt that hustle culture creates pressure to constantly work or make money from every hobby.
The dream is real, but the risks are also real
Despite immense interest in entrepreneurship, only a third of respondents said they are likely to take concrete steps towards self-employment within the next year, with financial uncertainty emerging as the biggest hurdle.
More than half of the participants cited unstable income as their main concern, while others cited fear over finding clients, maintaining work opportunities, and the possibility of failure.
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The research also found that many people would only seriously consider leaving traditional employment if they could earn significantly more than their current salary.
Another notable trend emerging from the study is the growing interest in international business opportunities.
More than half of respondents said they would like to work with foreign clients or conduct business across borders.
Remote work opportunities, international freelancing platforms and online commerce have opened the doors for South Africans to work with clients outside the country without physically relocating.
Ankur Tiwari, vice president and general manager of Remitly Business, said many people are attracted to the freedom associated with entrepreneurship, even if economic uncertainty makes the transition difficult.
'Our research highlights the growing gap between ambition to start a business and the confidence to take the first step.' He said.
Tiwari said that aspiring entrepreneurs do not need to leave their jobs immediately to start a business:
'For aspiring entrepreneurs, my advice would be to start small and build slowly. 'Testing an idea with a steady source of income can help reduce risk, build confidence, and give you the foundation to grow consistently over time.'
Meanwhile, not every country had the same enthusiasm for self-employment.
Australia, New Zealand and the Czech Republic are among the countries where more people still prefer traditional employment structures.
In those countries, respondents cited job security, pension benefits, sick leave, and reduced financial risk as major reasons for remaining in traditional employment.
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