In a recent report, it has been suggested that half of the white-collar workers at tech giant Google may not be doing “real work” and could potentially be hired to keep them away from competitors. This concept of overhiring talent in Big Tech companies is not a new phenomenon, with some employees admitting to being paid high salaries to do nothing but occasional 10-minute tasks.
David Ulevitch, a general partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, has criticized this trend, stating that many people in large corporations are working in what he calls “BS jobs” that do not contribute to innovation. He specifically called out Google for spending billions on projects that may not move forward, potentially taking away from shareholder returns and retirement programs.
Despite these concerns, Wall Street seems to be pleased with Google parent company Alphabet’s performance, with shares up nearly 22% for the year. However, Ulevitch has also raised concerns about the impact of outsourcing jobs overseas, particularly to China, which could result in America losing the skills needed for industrial growth.
In response to these trends, enrollment in vocational-focused community colleges has surged, indicating a growing interest in trades and skills-based education for career opportunities. The debate over the prevalence of “BS jobs” in large corporations like Google and the need for a return to skills-based work is gaining traction in the tech industry, sparking conversations about the future of work and innovation.
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