Page 6 | To believe most jobs are pointless?

FirmBrickLemur · 2025-02-19T09:29:25+00:00

Half of modern jobs just push paper around, while nurses and teachers get underpaid. Shouldn’t we rethink how we value work?

Catza · 19/02/2025 09:56

FirmBrickLemur · 19/02/2025 09:43

I’m not saying all jobs are pointless - of course, builders, engineers, and researchers contribute real value. But let’s be honest, there are plenty of office jobs where people spend their time on unnecessary meetings, reports no one reads, and tasks that don’t actually improve anything. If those roles disappeared overnight, would the world notice?

Show quote history

But what sort of an office and what sort of a job? If you can't give specific examples despite claiming "half the jobs" need to go, that tells me there can't be that many.

Badbadbunny · 19/02/2025 09:56

user4621786753 · 19/02/2025 09:33

I’d bet a tenner most if not all of these “pointless” jobs will be taken over by AI in the next decade. I’m nearly retirement age, but I do worry what will happen to the jobs market. Theres very few things AI cannot do better than an easily distracted human, including health care!

And teaching!

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/02/2025 09:55

**you can't

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 19/02/2025 09:54

But let’s be honest, there are plenty of office jobs where people spend their time on unnecessary meetings, reports no one reads, and tasks that don’t actually improve anything. If those roles disappeared overnight, would the world notice?

You need to be more specific. You can just declare that there are plenty of office jobs that are unnecessary and wouldn't be missed without some specific examples.

LynetteScavo · 19/02/2025 09:54

user4621786753 · 19/02/2025 09:33

I’d bet a tenner most if not all of these “pointless” jobs will be taken over by AI in the next decade. I’m nearly retirement age, but I do worry what will happen to the jobs market. Theres very few things AI cannot do better than an easily distracted human, including health care!

I think AI can aid teaching and healthcare, but not take it over. I also think low paid jobs like nursery nurse won't be paid any more just because they can't be done by AI, but I do think jobs that are considered skilled, and are currently well paid might be phased out.

DD is studying a DD for a career which probably won't be required at all due to AI. She's going to have to think sideways when she enters the job market.

TheDandyLion · 19/02/2025 09:47

Bullshit Jobs by David Greaber is a great book that looks at this in detail.

user111222 · 19/02/2025 09:47

Gardeninging · 19/02/2025 09:35

The public sector is absolutely horrendous for this.
The private sector is too, to an extent but there's more realistic pressure on a private company to make a profit and not waste money on coats on chairs type jobs.

The NHS is the absolute worst for this, it has become a monster filled with parasitic management level people who only exist to keep their own job while actual doctors and nurses get screwed over and are massively underpaid.

I agree, and have also thought recently about how AI will remove the need for a lot of these office jobs in the near future. And I say that as someone who has an NHS office job!

Original poster

FirmBrickLemur · 19/02/2025 09:43

Catza · 19/02/2025 09:37

Can you give some examples of jobs which only involve pushing papers around?
Hairdressers? Retail staff? Builders? Designers? Engineers? Researchers and research assistants? Delivery drivers? Mortgage underwriters? Solicitors? Construction workers? Factory workers?

What are the jobs you are talking about specifically?

Also why do we continue referring to all medical professionals as "nurses"? A hospital is more than nurses - porters, admin staff, HCAs, AHPs. I am surprised the PP is not offended to be lumped together under the "nurse" umbrella. As an AHP, I am.

I’m not saying all jobs are pointless - of course, builders, engineers, and researchers contribute real value. But let’s be honest, there are plenty of office jobs where people spend their time on unnecessary meetings, reports no one reads, and tasks that don’t actually improve anything. If those roles disappeared overnight, would the world notice?

OP posts:

Catza · 19/02/2025 09:37

Can you give some examples of jobs which only involve pushing papers around?
Hairdressers? Retail staff? Builders? Designers? Engineers? Researchers and research assistants? Delivery drivers? Mortgage underwriters? Solicitors? Construction workers? Factory workers?

What are the jobs you are talking about specifically?

Also why do we continue referring to all medical professionals as "nurses"? A hospital is more than nurses - porters, admin staff, HCAs, AHPs. I am surprised the PP is not offended to be lumped together under the "nurse" umbrella. As an AHP, I am.

ChocHotolate · 19/02/2025 09:36

Yes! (But I am a nurse) 🤣🤣

Gardeninging · 19/02/2025 09:35

The public sector is absolutely horrendous for this.
The private sector is too, to an extent but there's more realistic pressure on a private company to make a profit and not waste money on coats on chairs type jobs.

The NHS is the absolute worst for this, it has become a monster filled with parasitic management level people who only exist to keep their own job while actual doctors and nurses get screwed over and are massively underpaid.

user4621786753 · 19/02/2025 09:33

I’d bet a tenner most if not all of these “pointless” jobs will be taken over by AI in the next decade. I’m nearly retirement age, but I do worry what will happen to the jobs market. Theres very few things AI cannot do better than an easily distracted human, including health care!

Pushmepullyou · 19/02/2025 09:33

Presumably we only need to teach nursing then

madamweb · 19/02/2025 09:32

Sure. Let's sack everyone and just have nurses and teachers.

malificent7 · 19/02/2025 09:31

As an AHP I am grateful that you hold the view that we should get a payrise but aint going to happen in a capitalist society. Caring for people is not valued in a senswe that you can't make money from it. It costs to care.