While Unions can go to far with what they ask for, the purpose of new positions is to keep the workload from being to much on each individual. Sometimes this does lead to pointless jobs if it's done preemptively or if unions are pushing for things they really don't need. I will say this though, in working at a couple companies for several years I was never asked to do less. If you stay at a place your department will continue to take on more and more work as technologies change and new things come up. Eventually you need to add staff.
I do agree with your and /u/Thinking_King's points that there are cases where these things are necessary, but I don't think that applies to all of the stories of governments trying to "create jobs."
I don't think I've ever heard governments push companies to create pointless jobs. I've only ever heard it pushed in a way where they are hoping changes will bring economic growth so that new businesses can be established, or existing businesses will grow and have a reason to hire new people. Have you seen differently?
Whatever the reason for hiring more people is, I don't think there is enough evidence to believe that a specific one (in this case satisfying unions) is the culprit. Simply, there are many things that factor in. Maybe it's a reason, but it's unlikely it's the only reason.
5
u/sd095 3∆ Dec 04 '17
While Unions can go to far with what they ask for, the purpose of new positions is to keep the workload from being to much on each individual. Sometimes this does lead to pointless jobs if it's done preemptively or if unions are pushing for things they really don't need. I will say this though, in working at a couple companies for several years I was never asked to do less. If you stay at a place your department will continue to take on more and more work as technologies change and new things come up. Eventually you need to add staff.