Essential Workers vs. Bullshit Jobs
Rarely before has the rating of one’s own profession and particularly the view of professions of others changed so much as it did during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who could not even take a day’s leave off during the lockdown wished themselves into the home-offices of others. The stay-at-home workers and beneficiaries were/are in awe of those who were/are on duty and thanked God or their fate for not being on the frontline: Supermarket cashiers, pharmacists, social care workers, nurses, farm workers, doctors, policemen, postmen, mechanics, rubbish collectors, and many more.
What do these professions and tasks that are now everywhere in the public eye as ‘essential workers’ have in common? They are regrettably mostly women and poorly paid, one might think… right? The exceptions prove the rule: rubbish collectors are mainly male, doctors are well paid. So, what then are the commonalities?
Indeed, none of them are “bullshit jobs”, as David Graeber would call the jobs of those who are allowed to work at home during the lockdown or currently furloughed. Graeber was an avowed anarchist, best-selling author (Debt, 2012; Bureaucracy, 2015; Bullshit Jobs, 2018) and above all a cultural anthropologist. As such, a relativised perspective and the questioning of values are inseparable part of his methodological tools.
By bullshit jobs, Graeber means jobs that are so pointless, so unnecessary or even so harmful that even those who do these jobs cannot justify their existence. He estimates that bullshit jobs account for about 20–30% of all jobs. However, these bullshit jobs are not to be confused with “shit jobs”, i.e. underpaid jobs that nobody wants to do. Bullshit jobs, on the other hand, are mostly skilled, well-paid jobs that in reality nobody needs. Graeber provides a long list of examples ranging from lobbyists, influencers, PR representatives, corporate lawyers to soldiers, as well as a typology of bullshit jobs consisting of five types which is worth reading into (flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers and taskmasters).
Graeber argues that meaningful jobs are increasingly being replaced by bullshit jobs and that there is a need for a fundamental reassessment of work that puts meaningfulness at the centre of the debate. These arguments are well illustrated in the animated film “The Value of Work” narrated by Graber himself.
Graeber’s theses obviously hit a nerve, but unfortunately not the goal. It is not certain professions or jobs per se that are perceived as meaningless, but certain activities. Seen in this light, there seems to be probably only three categories of activities: those that really are meaningful and essential, those that are meaningful but non-essential, and those that are – soul-destroying – and actually meaningless, i.e. those that mean nothing to either society or the individual.
The case of Frédéric Desnard is indicative of the latter type. The French worker successfully sued his employer because he was literally ‘bored out’ at work (The Guardian 2016, The Times 2020).
The Covid-19 crisis became the litmus test for the essentiality of activities and Graeber’s approach. I fear, however, that the spontaneous applause in recognition of essential workers, especially so-called frontline workers (a specific disadvantaged subgroup of essential workers; Blau, Koebe, and Meyerhofer 2020) may merely be a brief social flare-up. Although I would prefer to see the numerous portrayals of this group that have emerged since the beginning of the pandemic have a longer lasting impact. See, for example, the photographic portrait series including passages taken from interview “Workers of Worcester” (2020) or Time magazine’s “Heroes of the Frontline” series “2021). The reason for my scepticism is simple: alas, no test for the meaningfulness of activities exists.
Graeber passed away on 2 September 2020 while on holiday in a hospital in Venice at the age of 59, a connection with COVID-19 hasn’t been ruled out.
David Graeber on the Value of Work, animated short, Illustration & animation: Jack Dubben, 2016
David Graeber speaks at Maagdenhuis, a central building of the University of Amsterdam, occupied by students in Spring 2015
© Guido van Nispen
David Graeber speaks at Maagdenhuis, a central building of the University of Amsterdam, occupied by students in Spring 2015
© Guido van Nispen
Abhinav Misra, MD Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow, Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, from the portrait series: Workers of Worcester
© Photo by H. Del Rosario
David Graeber on the Value of Work, 2016, Filmstill
© Illustration & animation: Jack Dubben
Essential Workers vs. Bullshit Jobs
Rarely before has the rating of one’s own profession and particularly the view of professions of others changed so much as it did during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who could not even take a day’s leave off during the lockdown wished themselves into the home-offices of others. The stay-at-home workers and beneficiaries were/are in awe of those who were/are on duty and thanked God or their fate for not being on the frontline: Supermarket cashiers, pharmacists, social care workers, nurses, farm workers, doctors, policemen, postmen, mechanics, rubbish collectors, and many more.
What do these professions and tasks that are now everywhere in the public eye as ‘essential workers’ have in common? They are regrettably mostly women and poorly paid, one might think… right? The exceptions prove the rule: rubbish collectors are mainly male, doctors are well paid. So, what then are the commonalities?
Indeed, none of them are “bullshit jobs”, as David Graeber would call the jobs of those who are allowed to work at home during the lockdown or currently furloughed. Graeber was an avowed anarchist, best-selling author (Debt, 2012; Bureaucracy, 2015; Bullshit Jobs, 2018) and above all a cultural anthropologist. As such, a relativised perspective and the questioning of values are inseparable part of his methodological tools.
By bullshit jobs, Graeber means jobs that are so pointless, so unnecessary or even so harmful that even those who do these jobs cannot justify their existence. He estimates that bullshit jobs account for about 20–30% of all jobs. However, these bullshit jobs are not to be confused with “shit jobs”, i.e. underpaid jobs that nobody wants to do. Bullshit jobs, on the other hand, are mostly skilled, well-paid jobs that in reality nobody needs. Graeber provides a long list of examples ranging from lobbyists, influencers, PR representatives, corporate lawyers to soldiers, as well as a typology of bullshit jobs consisting of five types which is worth reading into (flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers and taskmasters).
Graeber argues that meaningful jobs are increasingly being replaced by bullshit jobs and that there is a need for a fundamental reassessment of work that puts meaningfulness at the centre of the debate. These arguments are well illustrated in the animated film “The Value of Work” narrated by Graber himself.
Graeber’s theses obviously hit a nerve, but unfortunately not the goal. It is not certain professions or jobs per se that are perceived as meaningless, but certain activities. Seen in this light, there seems to be probably only three categories of activities: those that really are meaningful and essential, those that are meaningful but non-essential, and those that are – soul-destroying – and actually meaningless, i.e. those that mean nothing to either society or the individual.
The case of Frédéric Desnard is indicative of the latter type. The French worker successfully sued his employer because he was literally ‘bored out’ at work (The Guardian 2016, The Times 2020).
The Covid-19 crisis became the litmus test for the essentiality of activities and Graeber’s approach. I fear, however, that the spontaneous applause in recognition of essential workers, especially so-called frontline workers (a specific disadvantaged subgroup of essential workers; Blau, Koebe, and Meyerhofer 2020) may merely be a brief social flare-up. Although I would prefer to see the numerous portrayals of this group that have emerged since the beginning of the pandemic have a longer lasting impact. See, for example, the photographic portrait series including passages taken from interview “Workers of Worcester” (2020) or Time magazine’s “Heroes of the Frontline” series “2021). The reason for my scepticism is simple: alas, no test for the meaningfulness of activities exists.
Graeber passed away on 2 September 2020 while on holiday in a hospital in Venice at the age of 59, a connection with COVID-19 hasn’t been ruled out.
David Graeber on the Value of Work, animated short, Illustration & animation: Jack Dubben, 2016
David Graeber speaks at Maagdenhuis, a central building of the University of Amsterdam, occupied by students in Spring 2015
© Guido van Nispen
David Graeber speaks at Maagdenhuis, a central building of the University of Amsterdam, occupied by students in Spring 2015
© Guido van Nispen
Abhinav Misra, MD Pulmonary Critical Care Fellow, Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, from the portrait series: Workers of Worcester
© Photo by H. Del Rosario
David Graeber on the Value of Work, 2016, Filmstill
© Illustration & animation: Jack Dubben
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About this blog
By selecting a film or an image, this blog literally illustrates the vast sphere of work, employment & education in an open collection of academic, artistic and also anecdotal findings.
About us
Konrad Wakolbinger makes documentary films about work and life. Jörg Markowitsch does research on education and work. They are both based in Vienna. Information on guest authors can be found in their corresponding articles.
More about
Interested in more? Find recommendations on relevant festivals, film collections and literature here.
About this blog
With picking a film or an image, this blog literally illustrates the vast sphere of work, employment & education in an open collection of academic, artistic and also anecdotal findings.
About us
Konrad Wakolbinger makes documentary films about work and life. Jörg Markowitsch does research on education and work. We both work in Vienna. Information on guest authors can be found in their respective articles.
More about
Interested in more? Find recommendations on relevant festivals, film collections and literature here.