The traditional career path - staying with one employer, climbing the ladder and retiring after decades - is increasingly outdated. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 2025 has seen a sizable shift toward what’s known as a “portfolio career,” where professionals simultaneously or sequentially manage multiple jobs, freelance projects or passion ventures instead of one full-time role.

This new model appeals especially to younger workers who prioritise flexibility, varied work and control over income sources. Platforms like Upwork note that today’s talent wants autonomy and multiple client relationships over a single employer.

A “portfolio career” might combine consulting, side hustles, digital product creation or short-term contracts - each stream aligned with the person’s skills, interests and lifestyle. 

But this path isn’t without challenge: income swings, self-management burden and fewer employment perks (e.g., benefits, pensions) are real trade-offs. 

For many, though, the benefit is resiliency - a career not tied to one employer but anchored in skills, diversification and adaptability. As work evolves, so must how we define “a job.”