How Working 80 Hours a Week Could Make Me More Money Than My Former Job

My post-layoff plan to exceed my previous salary while the job market crumbles, and what it reveals about our generation's economic future

Author

Dissecting the Markets
April 14, 2025

For those who follow me on X, you’ll learn that on Tuesday, I lost my job. I appreciate the community’s help in finding work. While the job market continues to be bad, and we don’t know how long it will take for the job market to recover, I’ve broadened my search and have considered the idea of working jobs that a typical high school or college student would work at, like a barista or a front desk receptionist, as a way to the pass the time and have income to continue contributing to my household and buy the dips in the stock market.

While having brunch with friends, I thought of the idea of working two jobs to reduce my income shortfall and be a better supporter of my household. I ran the math, and there’s a chance that I can make more money while working two jobs than I did in my previous job. Here’s the math that I’ve done:

Scenario 1: I make $16/hour, work 80 hours a week for an entire year. This would give me a gross income of $66,560 (16 × 80 × 52)

Scenario 2: I make $17/hour, work 80 hours a week for an entire year. This would give me a gross income of $70,720 (17 × 80 × 52)

Scenario 3: I make $18/hour, work 80 hours a week for an entire year. This would give me a gross income of $74,880 (18 × 80 × 52)

Scenario 4: I make $19/hour, work 80 hours a week for an entire year. This would give me a gross income of $79,040 (19 × 80 × 52)

Scenario 5: I make $20/hour, work 80 hours a week for an entire year. This would give me a gross income of $83,200 (20 × 80 × 52)

Let’s say I made $75,000 in my previous job. Scenario 4 would be close to matching my previous salary, and Scenario 5 would have me making more than my previous job. At least all those scenarios will make me more money than what unemployment provides.

I don’t know how long it will take for the job market to improve. Many things point to the job market worsening. DOGE cuts have intensified layoffs across all industries. Trade wars have made companies hesitant to hire people. Interest rates have been volatile and elevated, deterring businesses from funding expansion.

Keeping myself busy with work, even if it means I’m dedicating a lot more time to work, will help keep time moving. If I’m spending 80 hours a week being a barista, a baker, or any other job, at least I’ll become an expert at a new skill. It’s better than sitting around, collecting unemployment benefits, and seeing this new gap in my resume grow.

Personally, even after having two years of work experience, I’m scared for my future. I’ve been through three jobs within my first three years in the workforce. I don’t know if I will ever get any traction in my career or if I have to rely on stocks and gambling on business ideas to gain any traction in my income. This article by Business Insider provided statistics that make me worried for my generation, Gen Z. Here are two paragraphs that will help you understand my concerns:

During hard economic times, we expect to hear stories about people losing their jobs. But the greatest casualties often end up being the young people who don't have jobs to lose in the first place. Hiring freezes hurt them the most, making it impossible for them to even get their foot in the door. And research shows just how long a shadow that can cast on someone's career. Five years after the Great Recession, my generation of millennials was earning 11% less than Gen Xers were at a comparable age. And our net worth fell 40% behind theirs, forcing us to delay many of life's biggest milestones: buying a home, starting a family, saving for retirement.

The effects go far beyond money. Students who graduated into the 1982 recession, for example, wound up with fewer kids and more divorces than those who entered better job markets. Even more shocking, the research shows, they were more likely to die early. Whatever gains in efficiency Trump hopes to achieve from DOGE, its most lasting legacy may end up being the harm it inflicts on the careers — and perhaps even the life spans — of his youngest constituents.

Aki Ito, Business Insider

I’m thankful I got my foot in the door and was able to get two years of work experience in my field. Having the experience helps with the job hunt, and with each new piece of experience I have, it helps recruiters and myself get another job. But if you think about it, the majority of Gen Z is either in high school or college. Generation Z was born between 1997 and 2012, to give context.

It’s safe to assume that those born from 1997 to 2000 have their foot in the job market. But, those born in 2001 and beyond are the ones who are entering the workforce at a time when jobs are scarce and employers aren’t willing to take the risk of giving a young person a chance at a professional job they studied for in college. As the labor markets look to worsen with time, the majority of Gen Z will have to delay milestones like homeownership, marriage, etc.

You will see more posts coming from me from now on, as I will be dedicating more time to growing this newsletter. Thank you for subscribing and I hope to continue to provide value to your inbox. :)