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Many industries which employed these workers will not recover for a very long time (if ever). It also introduces the need for companies to automate operations,

Many industries which employed these workers will not recover for a very long time (if ever). It also introduces the need for companies to automate operations, as a way to hedge the risk of employees getting sick (or making customers feel safer interacting with robots). The other thing to consider is that during boom periods (like the previous one), headcount is filled, regardless of whether the position is needed. Often times one person can do the work of 6, but the department/company wants to appear like it’s growing so it will hire 6. Now that economic belt is tightening, we’ll see more bare bones skeleton crews. So between those three things I think it will be highly unlikely that we return to pre-covid unemployment levels for quite some time (if ever).

satysin 6y ago
This is what I had assumed. With businesses closing some jobs are literally lost. Talking with friends and family I have realised most of us have changed how we plan to do things in the future. E.g. going out less will have a big impact on restaurants, cafes, cinemas, etc. If a lot of people feel the same as I/we do it will make recovery for such businesses harder. I see a lot of people talking about things "returning to normal" once the lockdown is lifted but I just can't see that happening. In my opinion this virus has fundamentally changed how many, many people will go about their lives for much longer than the lockdown. Perhaps I am wrong but it seems (most?) American politicians expect all of these jobs will magically return in a few weeks once states open up to how they were before?
Theodores 6y ago
David Graeber wrote about bullshit jobs - including those you describe. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs We have all been in offices where there are bullshit jobs. If these jobs go then it will be a while before they come back. These jobs are a bit like the junk that collects on your computer, filling up space and doing nothing. All of it was important once. But then you move to a new computer, install your software and project files to get on with work never needing the detritus again.
- satysin 6y ago
  I had not heard of this book but just grabbed it on Kindle and read the Preface and holy shit yes. So many bullshit jobs. The first thing to pop into my head is a conversation with my wife a few weeks ago about a couple of people she works with. They are "directors" in the company but my wife has always commented that their jobs are literally pointless. They "champion" things but never actually get involved other than to be updated on what is happening. Basically they spent their time flying around the world for meetings but in terms of real output they never actually had anything to show. They always claimed to be "so busy it is crazy!" but never seemed to produce any quantifiable results. It seemed the positions existed because it is just expected at a big video game company would have a lot of super talented people at director level. Why I don't know, I guess because at some point they were actually useful? Since working from home and being unable to travel for these super important meetings a few of these people are losing their minds as they have nothing to do and surprise! everything else is going along just fine. The teams all communicate as needed. Deliveries have still been made on time, etc. Sure there has been some impacts with contractors and suppliers being shut but nothing internal has been impacted. My wife is secretly hoping these positions evaporate as they have no demonstrable benefit to the business. For almost 3 months these people have done literally nothing and nobody has noticed.

satysin 6y ago

This is what I had assumed. With businesses closing some jobs are literally lost. Talking with friends and family I have realised most of us have changed how we plan to do things in the future. E.g. going out less will have a big impact on restaurants, cafes, cinemas, etc. If a lot of people feel the same as I/we do it will make recovery for such businesses harder. I see a lot of people talking about things "returning to normal" once the lockdown is lifted but I just can't see that happening. In my opinion this virus has fundamentally changed how many, many people will go about their lives for much longer than the lockdown. Perhaps I am wrong but it seems (most?) American politicians expect all of these jobs will magically return in a few weeks once states open up to how they were before?

Theodores 6y ago

David Graeber wrote about bullshit jobs - including those you describe. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs We have all been in offices where there are bullshit jobs. If these jobs go then it will be a while before they come back. These jobs are a bit like the junk that collects on your computer, filling up space and doing nothing. All of it was important once. But then you move to a new computer, install your software and project files to get on with work never needing the detritus again.

satysin 6y ago
I had not heard of this book but just grabbed it on Kindle and read the Preface and holy shit yes. So many bullshit jobs. The first thing to pop into my head is a conversation with my wife a few weeks ago about a couple of people she works with. They are "directors" in the company but my wife has always commented that their jobs are literally pointless. They "champion" things but never actually get involved other than to be updated on what is happening. Basically they spent their time flying around the world for meetings but in terms of real output they never actually had anything to show. They always claimed to be "so busy it is crazy!" but never seemed to produce any quantifiable results. It seemed the positions existed because it is just expected at a big video game company would have a lot of super talented people at director level. Why I don't know, I guess because at some point they were actually useful? Since working from home and being unable to travel for these super important meetings a few of these people are losing their minds as they have nothing to do and surprise! everything else is going along just fine. The teams all communicate as needed. Deliveries have still been made on time, etc. Sure there has been some impacts with contractors and suppliers being shut but nothing internal has been impacted. My wife is secretly hoping these positions evaporate as they have no demonstrable benefit to the business. For almost 3 months these people have done literally nothing and nobody has noticed.