The dream job isn’t sitting in a corner office any more. More Australians are trying to swap corporate careers for small businesses, trades and side hustles, chasing something many say is harder to find than a pay rise: Flexibility.

For some, this is about spending more time with family. For others, it’s about chasing financial freedom.

One of those who has made the leap is Paul Lavis, who spent more than two decades climbing the corporate ladder before being made redundant.

Instead of hunting for another role in sales, Lavis turned a small removalist gig into a growing business that now employs around 10 people. He says he earns similar money to his old job, and is closer to living the life he wants.

He’s not alone. More than a quarter of Australians already have a side hustle, while another 28 per cent say they’re planning to start one.

Independent contracting is also on the rise, as workers increasingly prioritise flexibility over the traditional nine-to-five. Platforms like Airtasker say they’re seeing more people embrace freelance and self-employed work.

Artificial intelligence could accelerate the trend even further. Entrepreneurs say AI has replaced work that once required lawyers, accountants, marketers and copywriters, making it easier and cheaper to launch a business.

They warn the early stages are incredibly hard work, but say it can be worth it, if your definition of career success is a work life built on your own terms rather than climbing the corporate ladder.

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