Bored at work? Here’s why your job might be a snooze fest
Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Ever wonder why you’re bored out of your mind at work?
Research reveals that most people's interests are miles away from their jobs. Surprise, surprise!
The study shows that the most popular work interest is ‘artistic’—think painting, writing, creating.
But here’s the kicker: only about 2% of jobs have anything remotely artistic about them. That's like putting a painter in a spreadsheet factory. No wonder 33 million Americans are stuck in a creative drought!
Age Makes Us Want More Art!
To make matters worse, our yearning for artistic pursuits only grows as we age. It’s like our inner artist is throwing a midlife crisis tantrum, demanding more paint and poetry.
Snooze-worthy Jobs
On the flip side, the jobs people are least interested in are the ‘conventional, systematic, and detail-oriented’ ones. Yep, we’re talking about statisticians and data scientists.
But guess what? These are exactly the jobs employers are desperate to fill—around 30% of jobs, in fact. So, about 26 million people are stuck crunching numbers and organizing data when they'd rather be doing...literally anything else.
Interest Gaps Galore
The gap between what people want and what’s available isn’t just in the artistic realm. For instance, only one-third of folks are interested in ‘realistic’ jobs—those involving hands-on work like plumbing, building, or engineering. These jobs are in high demand but low supply because not enough people want to do them. Who knew fixing leaky pipes wasn’t a childhood dream?
Investigative Interests
Interestingly, there’s a greater interest in investigative jobs—think research and science—than there are positions available. These gigs make up just 6% of the labor market. So, if you’ve got a lab coat and a love for experiments, you might still struggle to find a job.
Dream Job vs. Reality Check
This research is one of the first to compare people’s career interests with the jobs available. Dr. Kevin Hoff, the study’s lead author, noted that “interest fit predicts higher job performance and satisfaction.” Translation: we’d all be happier and more productive if our jobs matched our interests. Who knew?
Mismatch Mayhem
The study, which examined data from over a million U.S. residents and the Department of Labor, found huge mismatches, especially among those with lower levels of education. The highly educated have a better shot at finding jobs they love—lucky them!
Dr. Hoff suggested that career assessments should inform people about labor demands, helping them explore careers that not only fit their interests but also have available jobs. Good luck finding that unicorn job, though.
The Social Factor
The study found a decent match between the number of people interested in social jobs and the number of available positions. But remember, this data is from before the work-from-home era. Now, jobs are less social, and Zoom calls don’t quite cut it for those who thrive on office banter.
Can AI Save Us from Boring Jobs?
Many hope AI will take over routine, detail-oriented tasks, freeing us to pursue our artistic dreams. However, projections for 2029 suggest that while some routine jobs will decrease, we’ll still be stuck with many that no one enjoys. Plus, AI needs data scientists and programmers—precisely those conventional, detail-oriented roles we all love to avoid.
Artistic Jobs and AI
AI might even steal some artistic jobs, shrinking the pool of creative opportunities. But don't worry, AI can’t fix your plumbing, service your car, or stop your roof from leaking—realistic jobs are safe for now.
Beyond Passion
There’s a silver lining: a previous study by Dr. Hoff found that while job interest predicts satisfaction, it’s not the only factor. Other things, like your organization, supervisor, colleagues, and pay, also play a big role. So, even if your job isn’t a perfect match for your interests, you can still find satisfaction in other aspects.
Dr. Hoff advises not to stress too much about finding the perfect fit: “As long as it’s something you don’t hate doing, you may find yourself very satisfied if you have a good supervisor, like your coworkers, and are treated fairly by your organization.”
Final thoughts
In a nutshell, finding a job that aligns with your interests is tough, but not impossible.
Even if you’re stuck in a job that’s less than thrilling, good company and fair treatment can make a world of difference.
And who knows? Maybe one day AI will take over all the boring stuff, leaving us free to chase our artistic dreams.
Until then, keep finding joy where you can, and remember: you’re not alone in the struggle.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Hoff, K.A., Granillo-Velasquez, K.E., Hanna, A. et al. Interest Gaps in the Labor Market: Comparing People’s Vocational Interests with National Job Demands. J Bus Psychol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-024-09945-8
