What does your ideal job have to do with Saint Joseph?

Is your dream job to work less or work on something you want to enjoy, so it does not feel like work? You are not alone, and there is probably nothing wrong with that. But this reflection could offer you a grain of salt to go deeper into that thought.

At this moment we are living, the different generations that live together have different views on work: some just think about retirement, others about the best wages and careers, others about the balance between personal and private life, others about innovative positions.

The concept of work is changing a lot, and it has changed a lot over the last two centuries. One of the biggest shifts was at the Industrial Revolution when work started to have an almost exclusive focus on productivity, despite the workers’ well-being. This situation, among other reasons, triggered on May 1st 1886, the Haymarket Affair protests in Chicago, against workers' exploitation. So, from 1889, that day has been recognized globally as International Workers' Day, or May Day, which honours the labour movement and workers' rights, advocating initially for fair labour practices and the eight-hour workday.

Traditional views regarded work as more than survival duty to contribute positively to society. This contrasts with contemporary issues like remote work, automation, and the gig economy, raising concerns about fair pay and regulation. In sacred texts, work is portrayed as a divine calling in Eden and, post-Fall, as toil. Biblical passages encourage dedication and diligence as ways to serve God.

Saint Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, exemplifies these positive values through his humble life as a carpenter. His diligence and faithfulness illustrate the virtues of hard work and service, not only for surviving but to relate to others and make things better around him. Despite Saint Joseph's and many other Christian and non-Christian examples over the centuries, major labour issues persist, such as child labour, gender pay gaps, and poor working conditions, requiring continual efforts.

Ultimately, Christian teachings invite us to build a world where workers are treated with dignity and love. Our pursuit of fulfilling work mirrors Christ's call to love and serve one another (John 13,35). So, finding a dream job, from this perspective, is not just personal success but also a commitment to honesty, goodness, and creating better conditions for all, inspired by Saint Joseph's legacy and countless others who've shaped history through their labour and goodwill.