TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Dur, Robert
AU  - Lent, Max van
        TI  - Socially Useless Jobs
        PY  - 2018/Oct/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 11927
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp11927
        AB  - It has been claimed that many workers in modern economies think that their job is socially useless, i.e. that it makes no or a negative contribution to society. However, the evidence so far is mainly anecdotal. We use a representative dataset comprising 100,000 workers from 47 countries at four points in time. We find that approximately 8% of workers perceive their job as socially useless, while another 17% are doubtful about the usefulness of their job. There are sizeable differences between countries, sectors, occupations, and age groups, but no trend over time. A vast majority of workers cares about holding a socially useful job and we find that they suffer when they consider their job useless. We also explore possible causes of socially useless jobs, including bad management, strict job protection legislation, harmful economic activities, labor hoarding, and division of labor.
        KW  - sin industries
KW  - job protection legislation
KW  - management quality
KW  - job search
KW  - job satisfaction
KW  - work motivation
KW  - labor hoarding
KW  - division of labor
        ER  -