When Hannah graduated from King’s College London in 2019, she hoped for a marketing career. Instead, she found herself working at a makeup counter, barely scraping by in London. A friend introduced her to stripping, and she quickly realized she could earn far more dancing than in retail. When the pandemic shut down clubs, she pivoted to private parties, making thousands per event. After lockdowns, she returned to the club full-time, finding sex work the only reliable way to make decent money.
Hannah’s experience isn’t unique. Platforms like OnlyFans exploded in popularity, with creator accounts surging from 350,000 in 2019 to over 4 million by 2023. The promise of fast cash and flexible hours drew many young people, especially Gen Z, into the industry. A 2024 survey found 73% of US sex workers are between 18 and 35, most of them women.
But the gold rush has faded. The influx of new workers has led to oversaturation, driving down rates and making it harder to earn a living. Some sex workers report their earnings have dropped by 30% since 2019. On Reddit, many discuss lowering prices just to attract clients. Strip club revenue in major US cities has fallen by up to 40% since 2022, and clubs are closing or cutting hours.
For many, sex work was a lifeline during the pandemic and economic downturns, offering quick cash when traditional jobs disappeared or paid too little. But now, even experienced workers like Maria, who has six years in the industry, are earninga little more than when they started. Clients are spending less, citing the cost-of-living crisis.
The industry’s rapid growth has created a new hierarchy: a handful of top earners—often celebrities or influencers—make huge sums, while average workers see their incomes shrink. The so-called “middle class” of sex work is disappearing. On OnlyFans, average monthly earnings have dropped from $600 to under $200 in just two years.
Some, like Alex, have managed to thrive by building loyal client bases, earning up to £10,000 a month as escorts. Others, like Charlotte, returned to sex work after years away, only to find a market flooded with competition and lower rates. Even high-end escorts have had to drop their prices to get bookings.
While sex work once seemed like a shortcut to financial independence for Gen Z, it’s now subject to the same economic pressures as any other industry. As the economy struggles, so does the sex industry. Many workers worry about their future and how to explain gaps in their resumes if they want to leave the industry.
Despite the challenges, some still see sex work as preferable to low-paying traditional jobs. Others hope to use the skills they’ve gained—like business management and self-promotion—to eventually transition out. For now, though, many are finding that the promise of easy money in sex work is fading fast.