More than half of Russians surveyed, 52 percent, have turned hobbies into income, according to a survey conducted by the recruitment service hh.ru and reported by socialbites.ca. The trend indicates a growing tendency for people to turn personal passions into practical work, creating new career paths outside traditional job descriptions.
Among those who pursued earnings from hobbies, men were found to be slightly more likely than women to convert leisure activities into paychecks, with a gap of about 7 percentage points. Interestingly, the shift appeared fairly balanced across age groups: 23 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 and 23 percent of those aged 55 and older reported leveraging a hobby for income.
Across the board, the most common fields where hobbyists found formal work were programming and software development, accounting for roughly one in five respondents who had turned a hobby into a career. Mechanics and technicians followed closely, representing about 18 percent, while designers and illustrators accounted for around 11 percent. Literature lovers who monetized their passion made up about 6 percent, and another 20 percent selected a range of other options, with HR, foreign languages, music, and psychology among the frequently cited areas.
Despite the varied outcomes, two-thirds of participants said turning a hobby into a business was not difficult. Nevertheless, about a third encountered challenges. The main obstacles were a lack of experience (68 percent) and insufficient professional training (41 percent). Another large share, 37 percent, reported not meeting employers’ professional criteria, and 26 percent chose not to pursue the career due to relatively low salaries in the chosen field.
When asked about satisfaction with income from the hobby-based business, roughly one-third, 31 percent, expressed overall satisfaction, while 69 percent felt disappointed and expected higher earnings. Specific sectors showed higher satisfaction levels: construction workers, IT professionals, financiers and accountants, and production workers reported relatively stronger contentment with salaries, at about 48, 39, 38, and 37 percent respectively.
For many, the hobby served as a catalyst for significant career advancement. Some respondents became business owners (9 percent), others rose to senior managerial roles (8 percent), a portion transitioned into leadership or project management positions (16 percent), and a substantial share—around 45 percent—developed into recognized experts in their field.
The study also highlighted a strong sense of overall satisfaction among those who blend life with a monetized hobby. In 67 percent of cases, individuals felt positively about their choice. Of this group, 39 percent reported being completely satisfied, while 27 percent were generally satisfied but still hoped for more from their career. Conversely, 23 percent had not yet achieved their desired outcomes, and 8 percent planned a switch to a different career path unrelated to their hobby.
The survey collected responses from 1,427 Russian applicants between December 21, 2023, and January 8, 2024.
Earlier reports from Romir noted that Russians now have more “free money,” reflecting shifting attitudes toward personal passions and income in the modern economy.