Bullshit Jobs

1. Bullshit jobs are prevalent and defined by their pointlessness

A bullshit job is a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence even though, as part of the conditions of employment, the employee feels obliged to pretend that this is not the case.

Widespread phenomenon: Bullshit jobs have become increasingly common in modern economies, with surveys suggesting that up to 37-40% of workers in rich countries feel their jobs are pointless. These jobs often exist in:

• Corporate bureaucracies
• Financial services
• Administrative roles
• Middle management positions

Characteristics of bullshit jobs:

• No discernible positive impact on society
• Could be eliminated without any negative consequences
• Often involve pretending to work or creating unnecessary tasks
• Tend to be well-compensated compared to socially valuable jobs

The proliferation of bullshit jobs contradicts economic theory, which suggests that market competition should eliminate unnecessary positions. This paradox points to deeper structural issues in our economic and social systems.

2. Five types of bullshit jobs: flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers, and taskmasters

I would say the average development team gets one show commissioned every three to four months. It's bullshit through and through.

Flunkies: Exist to make someone else look or feel important

• Receptionists with no actual work
• Unnecessary administrative assistants
• Doormen in buildings with intercoms

Goons: Jobs that involve aggression or manipulation

• Telemarketers
• Corporate lawyers
• Lobbyists

Duct tapers: Solve problems that shouldn't exist

• IT professionals fixing poorly designed systems
• Employees correcting errors made by superiors

Box tickers: Create the appearance of doing something

• Risk management professionals in banks
• Corporate compliance officers
• Some forms of middle management

Taskmasters: Assign or create work for others

• Unnecessary supervisors
• Managers who invent pointless tasks for subordinates

These categories often overlap, and many bullshit jobs combine elements of multiple types. The common thread is that they all involve work that is ultimately unnecessary or counterproductive.

3. Bullshit jobs cause psychological harm and moral confusion

I get anxiety because I think that at any moment someone is actually going to realize that nothing would change if I were not here and they could save themselves the money.

Psychological impact: Holding a bullshit job can lead to:

• Depression and anxiety
• Loss of self-esteem
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Stress from pretending to work

Moral confusion: Workers in bullshit jobs often experience:

• Cognitive dissonance between their values and actions
• Guilt over receiving payment for meaningless work
• Resentment towards those in socially valuable jobs
• Confusion about the purpose of their role in society

The psychological toll of bullshit jobs extends beyond the workplace, affecting personal relationships and overall life satisfaction. Many workers report feeling trapped, unable to leave their well-paid but meaningless positions due to financial obligations or societal expectations.

4. The paradox: People hate having bullshit jobs but believe in work as a virtue

If you're not destroying your mind and body via paid work, you're not living right.

Work ethic contradiction: Society values hard work and employment, even when the work itself is pointless. This leads to:

• People feeling guilty for not working, even in bullshit jobs
• A belief that any job is better than no job
• Resistance to ideas like shortened work weeks or universal basic income

Historical context:

• Protestant work ethic: Work as a moral and religious duty
• Industrial revolution: Emphasis on productivity and time discipline
• Post-industrial economy: Shift towards service and information jobs

This paradox creates a situation where people are miserable in their bullshit jobs but feel morally obligated to continue working. It also contributes to political resistance against policies that might reduce the prevalence of bullshit jobs.

5. Managerial feudalism and the proliferation of bullshit jobs

The ruling class has figured out that a happy and productive population with free time on their hands is a mortal danger.

Managerial feudalism: A system where:

• Power and status are derived from controlling subordinates
• Corporations create unnecessary layers of management
• Efficiency is less important than maintaining hierarchies

Causes of bullshit job proliferation:

• Financialization of the economy
• Growth of administrative and regulatory bureaucracies
• Corporate culture valuing appearance over substance
• Political pressure to maintain full employment

This system perpetuates itself by creating new layers of bullshit jobs to justify the existence of higher-level positions. It also serves to keep the workforce occupied and less likely to challenge existing power structures.

6. The inverse relationship between social value and compensation

The more obviously one's work benefits other people, the less one is likely to be paid for it.

Value paradox: Jobs with the most direct positive impact on society often receive the lowest compensation:

• Teachers
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Sanitation workers

Highly compensated, low social value jobs:

• Financial traders
• Corporate lawyers
• Marketing executives
• Many forms of middle management

This inverse relationship creates resentment and moral confusion. It also contributes to the difficulty in eliminating bullshit jobs, as those in well-paid but socially useless positions have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

7. Universal Basic Income as a potential solution to bullshit jobs

If Universal Basic Income was instituted, it's very hard to imagine jobs like Annie's long continue to exist.

Benefits of UBI:

• Eliminates the need to work purely for survival
• Allows people to pursue meaningful work or education
• Reduces the power imbalance between employers and employees
• Potentially eliminates many bullshit jobs

Challenges to implementing UBI:

• Political resistance from those benefiting from the current system
• Concerns about financing and inflation
• Cultural attachment to the idea of work as virtue

Universal Basic Income could fundamentally reshape the labor market by allowing people to refuse bullshit jobs without risking poverty. This could lead to a revaluation of work based on its actual social utility rather than its ability to occupy time or maintain hierarchies.

Last updated: July 21, 2024