Content creation holds appeal for laid-off workers seeking flexibility

By BROOKE SCHULTZ

Despite a strong job market, there are still thousands of people who have found themselves out of work across industries stretching from tech to retail to media. But rather than trying to find another job in their old role, some workers are turning to online content creation. In an estimated $250 billion industry, 4% of global content creators pull in more than $100,000 annually, according to Goldman Sachs Research. YouTube — considered by creators to be one of the more lucrative platforms — has more than 3 million channels in its YouTube Partner Program, which is how creators earn money. Meanwhile, TikTok has seen a 15% growth in user monetization. But experts warn that it takes time, energy and resources to turn content creation into a successful career.