Moonlighting shines

"Although the revenue is much lower than my salary, I love doing it because it makes me happy when I can see my ideas turn into real objects that influence people," the 34-year-old says, adding the connection between her side business and her main job helps her improve her expertise.

Zhao Shuguang, a media professor at Nanjing University, tells China Youth Daily that the country's "amphibious youth" embody the spirit of hardworking Chinese people. They love the sense of achievement that comes from handling multiple occupations, and are willing to invest the time, energy and cash to make them work, he says.

Zhaopin's Li thinks that increasing job flexibility will help young entrepreneurs to thrive in the future as internet commerce and the shared economy continue their rapid development.

The three most popular side occupations in China are e-commerce vendors, writers and designers-all of which enjoy strong market demand, have low entry barriers and offer enormous flexibility, the Zhaopin report says.

Companies are also becoming more open and inclusive so that the flow in human capital in the labor market will become freer in the future, according to Li.

"But it's also important to develop your side jobs while handling your main career as well. Your choice of occupation should play to your strengths," he says. "Improving your expertise is key to survival when faced with fierce competition."

Ruan from Boston Consulting suggests young entrepreneurs should learn how to combine their jobs with their interests and settle on long-term careers that suit them as early as possible.

"It's not wise to explore blind avenues simply to make quick money," she says. "If you are more interested in your side business, why not make it your main career? Only when you focus on a single idea will you be able to make a real success of it."

She adds that when young people start families, it will be more difficult for them to deal with two or even three jobs. The toll on their physical health will not be sustainable and could hinder their career development.

The report from Du Xiaoman Financial shows that more than 65 percent of young entrepreneurs have plans to turn their side businesses into their main careers. Then, the drive to improve professionally will help them attain self-fulfillment, it says.