Research in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research has looked at how workers in socially stigmatized or emotionally taxing occupations, colloquially referred to as “dirty work”, cope with the psychological burden of their roles. The research also considers the factors that might help such workers stay in such careers.
Xiao Xiao and Sze-Ting Chen of the Chinese International College at Dhurakij Pundit University in Bangkok, Thailand, surveyed a thousand or so employees across a variety of industries. They identified the psychological mechanisms that connect feelings of stigma to intentions to leave a job, and importantly, what can disrupt that pattern.
The term “dirty work” refers to jobs that society often views as unpleasant, morally ambiguous, or low-status. This includes roles in sanitation, care work, adult entertainment, and other professions marked by social disapproval or discomfort. These occupations, though often essential, are frequently associated with low wages, limited upward mobility, and entrenched negative stereotypes.
The team found that employees who perceive their work as dirty are more likely to consider leaving their profession. Central to this is the concept of “learned helplessness”. This is a known psychological state in which individuals, after repeated negative experiences, begin to feel powerless to change their circumstances. This feeling of futility acts as a psychological bridge between the perception of one’s job as degrading and the desire to abandon it.
However, the team also found two powerful counterpoints to this effect, what they refer to as “career calling” and “job crafting”. Career calling refers to an individual’s deep-seated belief that their work serves a meaningful purpose or contributes to the greater good, despite the perception of it as “dirty work”. Workers who see their roles in this light, such as viewing care work as vital to community wellbeing, are more resistant to the emotional toll of societal stigma and more inclined to stay.
That other factor, job crafting, refers to how employees might take steps to reshape aspects of their work environment. This might include altering the nature of their tasks, reframing their job narratives, or seeking more meaningful relationships with colleagues or clients. A hospital caretaker might come to see their role as foundational to public health, while a worker in the adult entertainment industry may emphasize their artistic expression or emotional labour. By tailoring their work experience, individuals can reduce any feelings of helplessness and strengthen their professional identity.
From an organizational standpoint, the implications of understanding the psychological costs of stigmatized work could be crucial for employee morale and retention. Employers can intervene by offering greater autonomy, encouraging task redesign, and reinforcing the social importance of such roles.
Xiao, X. and Chen, S-T. (2025) ‘Unique insights: the mediating role of learned helplessness on the influence of perceived dirty work on career transition intentions, and the moderating role of job crafting and career calling’, Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 29, No. 11, pp.1–30.