[ForceOfPhil]

This is a very good point.

I think another factor is the type of Jobs. Joiner and Seamstress are jobs which create something useful.

Many jobs today do not create such obvious value, people see numbers on a system change and are in constant competition with their peers - opposed to "enough work for everyone.

I write code for a college and manage their MIS - there are days that are great where I see the value I am providing and problem solving.

Then there are days where I feel so powerless and trapped by the system and I can do nothing about the issues I have with this job (lazy co-workers, managers not including target audience in the development, no technical specs/generic wire frames I need to fill out to an entire project, project manager having 0 technical proficiency) all because this place is a minefield of regulation over performance.

[pjc50]

Indeed. This is part of the whole "bullshit jobs" line of inquiry; also "emotional labour".

> trapped by the system and I can do nothing about the issues I have with this job

You've been given just enough autonomy to take psychological responsibility for how the thing turns out, but not enough autonomy to actually make it happen. A common route to misery and self-blame.