Is taking a Full time masters degree viable now?

I have a friend who took a phd at 2008, I asked him why.

He said that if your first job is low (even when its not your fault and coz of economic downturn), your whole lifetime income is much lower than the other people who graduated in different years.

So the best way is to "delay his graduation" by taking up his phd.

he is doing quite well now.

I think taking a master is good now, you are reducing competition with other graduates. oh thats also provided your master is something that the market wants... ;)

With covid-19, not sure whether lessons can be conducted physically face-to-face, a major point of masters is establishing a network of contacts. Unlikely you can bang for your bucks from this aspect.