Make-work job

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A make-work job is a job which has less final benefit than the job costs to support. Make-work jobs are similar to workfare, but are publicly offered on the job market and have otherwise normal employment requirements (workfare jobs, in contrast, may be handed out to a randomly selected applicant or have special requirements such as continuing to search for a non-workfare job).

Make-work jobs are generally considered to be harmful to the economy, as it takes people out of the job market, and pays them more than their job produces. However, under certain circumstances, it is understood that make-work jobs can be a good thing, for example during a depression, make-work jobs can be a less-economically-harmful alternative to welfare.^[1]

In a socialist nationalised economy, several of the nationalised sectors of work can be considered as make work jobs, whereby the industry being worked in does not necessarily make a profit, but is considered essential to the national interest. In practice, however, the phrase "make-work" is more commonly only used for work that is both of negative financial benefit and also not considered to be of any other particular benefit to the national interest.

See also

• Cash assistance

References

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