Why Is Everyone In Tech So Sad?

Tech workers are increasingly turning to analog hobbies and fantasies of escape — knitting, pottery, farming — signaling deeper dissatisfaction with their careers. Noema Magazine reports on what it calls 'Workism': the trend of seeking fulfillment and identity from work, particularly among high-earning professionals in tech and finance. But unlike traditional vocations such as teaching or nursing, much of this knowledge work carries little altruistic purpose; the article cites sociologist David Graeber's concept of 'bullshit jobs' — positions that lack meaningful social function. With AI disruption now threatening the tech industry itself, that faith is breaking down. The result: an entire class of once-insulated workers grappling with existential questions about the point of their careers.

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