"Is "employing" XX% of your population in virtual indentured servitude supposed to be something politicians are proud of?" In 2020, in the U.S. for example, ye

"Is "employing" XX% of your population in virtual indentured servitude supposed to be something politicians are proud of?" In 2020, in the U.S. for example, yes. This is why these "jobs" disappeared so quickly when there is a slightest sign of economic trouble. Someone has to do "real work" and so there will always be a need for indentured servants. Those sort of jobs will always exist. However the need for many other "jobs" has been put into question. When things get tight, companies today are more aware that they can eliminate those positions and carry on, sometimes with increased profits as a result. The pandemic is a perfect wake-up call as it purports to separate "essential" from "non-essential" jobs. With some exceptions, the more you are being paid, the more you think you are worth, the higher the chance that your job is, in fact, "non-essential". Eliminating these higher paid, non-essential positions, even temporarily, saves companies a lot of money. It is not easy to eliminate these positions under normal conditions, however in an "economic crisis", the process becomes easier. As an employer, I can get those workers back anytime. They will be crawling over each other, lying about their qualifications, doing whatever it takes to get hired, because, on the "strength" of their non-essential job, they have built-up a standard of living that they must maintain.