HAMILTON, Texas — The dream was to go to college and work in marine biology for Abbie Housden. But she says God had other plans for her.
"It seems pretty easy," Abbie laughs as she makes a TikTok video.
She's now working for herself at the age of 22. She graduated college and opened up a clothing store in Hamilton.
"Entrepreneurship is such a big thing now and I don't think it was three years ago," said Housden.
According to the Census Bureau, over four million businesses have been launched in 2020 alone.
"It's been exciting to just be able to push through those two years and not knowing what's going on," said Housden.
Millennials and Gen Z leaving their jobs
Abbie knows that her generation gets a bad wrap. But she believes that most are far from lazy and willing to take a risk,
"Younger Generations are more comfortable with the platforms out there,' said Anthony Klotz from Texas A&M.
Abbie just doesn't market her business to those in Hamilton. She uses social media to push her merchandise around the world.
"They'll earn money in a non-traditional way, through gig work, working online, and remote work," said Klotz.
According to a Microsoft Corp. survey, nearly half of the world’s workers are considering leaving their jobs.
Two-thirds of millennials who left their work in 2021 during the pandemic, said mental health was the reason. A Mind Share Partners survey, shows Gen Z was even higher, at 81%.
Being your own boss can be difficult
Abbie says she's always working, but enjoys the idea of being her own boss. At this point, she has no other employees.
"I've seen people wanting to work.
And we're happy to work and happy to have a job for people having trouble now,"
She's been able to keep her longest employee, Gary Garner, for 50 years.
Who is starting up new businesses?
Many businesses were created by women and people of color, according to the latest survey found by Gusto.
In 2020, 11% of new business owners were Black, that's compared with 3% in recent years. 49% were women, compared with 27% in recent years. It surveyed 1,568 new business owners, who started up in the pandemic, from April 4 to 16.
What's the downside?
It's two-generation in the middle of some uncertain times. There are also help-wanted signs all over the place now.
In September 2021, in the world of food service, they saw 863,000 quits, that's 6.6% of its workforce. Retail trade accounted for another 685,000 people leaving the job. That's 4.4% of its workforce.
For Abbie, she's enjoying the adventure and hopes to keep going.
