80,000 Hours
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Career guidance, Research |
| Founded | 2011 in London, United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Career advice, Research articles, Podcast, YouTube channel, Career counseling |
| Owner | Independent nonprofit |
| Website | 80000hours |
80,000 Hours is a nonprofit entity based in London that conducts research into careers offering the highest potential for positive social impact and provides career guidance grounded in empirical evidence. The organization's name signifies the approximate number of working hours an individual accumulates throughout their lifetime.
The book titled 80,000 Hours, authored by Benjamin Todd, delivers career advice rooted in the principles of effective altruism and personal satisfaction. Since 2017, the organization has been producing a podcast that showcases a variety of career viewpoints aligned with this philosophy, complemented by a YouTube channel. Their website frequently releases articles consistent with their research findings and offers tailored career counseling through individual consultations.
Principles
In evaluating careers aimed at maximizing good, 80,000 Hours applies criteria including the "scale," "neglectedness," and "solvability" of the issues addressed. Career options are assessed based on immediate social impact, future potential for influence, and alignment with individual strengths and preferences.
Impact is quantified by the additional benefit generated as a result of choosing a particular career path, taking into account the concept of replaceability—whereby if one person does not fill a role, another likely will, thereby influencing the net positive effect. The organization critiques common guidance such as "follow your passion," noting that many passions correspond to sectors with limited opportunities. Instead, it promotes acquiring valuable skills in impactful fields, emphasizing that passion often emerges from gaining expertise and a sense of purpose.
80,000 Hours considers both direct actions—such as scientific inquiry and policy engagement—and indirect methods like earning to give, which involves pursuing high-earning careers to enable substantial charitable donations.
Focus areas
The primary audience for 80,000 Hours' advice is talented individuals aged between 20 and 40.
The organization endorses longtermism, which emphasizes prioritizing the long-range future due to the immense number of potential lives ahead. Its focus encompasses initiatives with enduring influence, including enhancing AI safety and governance, mitigating risks of nuclear warfare and pandemics, and improving decision-making processes.
Funding
Open Philanthropy, supported by Dustin Moskovitz and Cari Tuna, stands as the largest financial contributor to 80,000 Hours, having donated a total of $10 million by 2019. Additional significant individual benefactors include Ben Delo, Luke Ding, Sam Bankman-Fried, Alex Gordon-Brown, Denise Melchin, and Jaan Tallinn. Institutional backers have featured the Frederick Mulder Foundation and the Effective Altruism Meta Fund. In 2015, the organization also secured $50,000 in funding from Y Combinator.