Man, it's such a tough question. I do think (American here) that people are too defined by there jobs and that we place too much emphasis on work. However, I'm a firefighter/EMT now, and I derive a lot of purpose from that and a sense of self-worth. Also, I think a lot of people might say: "Well, that's one of the rare jobs that makes most people who pursue it feel accomplished," but even when I was a mechanic, or laying tile, it was similar. Seeing a car drive off that had come into the shop with problems gave me an immense sense of satisfaction. It was fucked up when it came in, making noises, etc, and I fixed it! That was me! Someone trusts their life to me when I do their tires, and I did a good job! Also, with tile, going into a house, tearing up the floor, and then laying the last of the new tile, standing back, and just feeling good. Someone paid my boss and I to come into their most personal area, their home, and make it look good, and we did it.

This is also why I'm a huge proponent of supporting trades and manual labor. I've done both, been to a four year college and worked for my liberal-arts degree, which I don't regret, but a lot of my piers, in this day and age, don't even know how to change their oil or do simple home repairs, and I think the jobs they have pursued, like being part of a corporation, don't have as tangible of a result, and they don't get as much satisfaction from it.

Now, if everything was automated, could I not lay tile or work on cars? I guess I still could, but I'm not sure what the result would be, such a crazy issue. I think some people are like dogs. Ever seen a sheep-dog or another breed that's owned by a family that doesn't provide it an outlet for it's natural inclination to work? They get nutty and weird.