Sociology

Time and again, we hear of a many people complaining about the many issues they face at work. One can indeed come up with a good litany of these issues. Issues pertinent to benefits, wages, safety within the workplace, security of tenure, among others, are but representatives of the myriads of identifiable challenges that presently haunt the current state of American labor.

But what may prove to be tellingly peculiar about our labor condition lies in the unfortunate fact that a good majority of Americans have professions which  chiefly  are not in line with their personal orientation or professional leaning. And this, I believe, constitutes the very reason why work in the United States presents itself as a serious social problem.

When a student goes to college, there is a basic presumption that he or she anticipates the profession which suits not only his or her interest, but also his or her competence. Which is why, students are expected to gain a sound grasp of their professional orientation while they are still in school. This is not only to fulfill the need to follow ones desire. There is an essential presumption that profession  personally chosen, as it were, on account of happiness and conviction  provides a basic sense of meaning to people. Work, indeed, gives a sense of purpose, especially when they can cultivate personal esteem and a sense of fulfillment. When work is incongruent with personal fulfillment, there is alienation. And this is problematic.

We hear of journalism graduates ending up as bartenders for lack of better alternatives or students graduating with Education degree eventually working as Sales agents. We may know of Ph.D. holders being underemployed in their profession or Management graduates ending up as Customer service representatives. These are but classic examples of out-of-line professions which are so common in the United States. If these incidences come in millions, then we surely have a big problem to hurdle. For when a profession is unable to generate a respectable level of personal fulfillment, then we create an ocean of disenchanted and seemingly lifeless workforce. This, indeed, is a massive social problem.