Recent data reveals a shift in the belief that hard work is the key to improving one’s life.
Research by the Policy Institute at King’s College London explored how people from various countries—including the US, UK, France, Nigeria, China, Sweden, and Japan—value work.
In the UK, around 49 percent of individuals believe that both hard work and connections are equally crucial for achieving success. On the other hand, 11 percent prioritize connections over hard work.
Conversely, in the US, 55 percent of respondents maintain that hard work generally leads to a better life.
This data emerges amidst changing work culture, influenced by generational shifts and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
The move to remote work during the pandemic has led many to realize that prioritizing work above all else is not essential for maintaining productivity.
Moreover, the improved work/life balance—though more effective for some roles than others—has demonstrated to many employees that their work environment can be different.
Additionally, wage stagnation and rising living costs, including housing, energy bills, and food, have left many, particularly younger individuals, working hard just to make ends meet.
One user on Reddit commented: “‘Working hard for a better life’ is the biggest scam.”
Professor Bobby Duffy, who contributed to the study, mentioned that millennials have ‘become much more sceptical about prioritising work as they’ve made their way through their career’.
This skepticism arises from ‘the long-term economic and wage stagnation that will lead younger generations to question the value of work’.
Duffy is not alone in exploring why people are increasingly questioning the value of work.
In 2018, anthropologist David Graeber authored “Bullsh*t Jobs,” which examines jobs that do not serve a meaningful social function or create real value.
Having a job that offers fulfillment—whether morally, intellectually, materially, or ideally a combination of these—is beneficial.
However, jobs lacking in purpose can be socially and psychologically harmful.
The issue isn’t hard work itself but rather hard work devoid of meaningful purpose. For instance, gardening involves hard work, but the satisfaction of harvesting your first crop of tomatoes provides a clear sense of accomplishment.
With many modern jobs fitting into the categories Graeber describes—work for the sake of work—it’s not surprising that people are less enthusiastic about the role of work in their lives.