9. Most adult members of Zion 21.0 would work.

Some members of Zion 21.0 would not be expected to work full-time.

Zion 21.0 may decide that children, a parent raising a family, the elderly or those with severe disabilities, full-time students, and members looking for employment are not expected to work. With these exceptions, however, most adults would be expected to have full-time paid employment. 

Full-time work.

Patterns of work differ quite a bit from one country to another. For members of Zion 21.0 who are paid employees, the number of working hours per week and days per year would generally be set by their employer. Zion members who are self-employed would probably have greater ability to set their own hours. In each national setting, Zion can define what would be considered full-time employment. Individual workers would then be responsible to find work that meets the full-time standard agreed upon.

In contrast to working hours, Zion 21.0 would have more discretion about retirement. In many societies, it is customary for people to stop their paid work at some age and enter retirement. Zion’s members would come to an understanding about whether retirement is appropriate and, if so, at what age or under what conditions. One can imagine a norm that people continue in paid employment as long as they are physically and mentally able. Alternatively, Zion might decide that, beyond a certain age, people have the option to stop paid employment and devote themselves to other pursuits, including church and community service.

Choosing occupation.

Where a person chooses to work is determined by a number of factors. Some occupations are not available, because employers for those occupations would not see the person as qualified. Among the jobs that are available, an important consideration is the wage or salary and benefits a worker is likely to receive in the job and in later jobs in the same career field. Also important are the personal, non-monetary characteristics of work in that occupation. For instance, the work may be indoors or out of doors, it may be solitary or social, and it may require a high or low degree of mental or physical effort. One of the characteristics of an occupation is the contribution that the job makes to other people. To varying degrees, workers prefer an occupation that “makes a difference” or “contributes to society.”

For most members of Zion 21.0, their employment would be their stewardship, their way of contributing to the resources of Zion. For a Zion member choosing an occupation, the wage or salary takes on a different significance. A household would receive the appropriate equalized income level regardless of occupation, so a higher or lower wage has little direct impact on the household. Instead, members may be motivated to choose an occupation with a high wage because they then make a greater contribution to the community of Zion.

Advanced training. 

All members of Zion 21.0 would be offered some level of education or training. For instance, this may include education through high school and four years of college or equivalent training. Some occupations, such as medical doctor, require additional training. It would not be equitable to expect members who choose such occupations to take part of their equalized income to pay for advanced training. The higher earnings that a worker expects to receive as a doctor would increase the surplus that he or she would contribute to Zion, not the income of the doctor’s own household. So it makes sense for the community of Zion 21.0, not the individual, to pay for the cost of advanced training. The Storehouse would be responsible for evaluating member applications for advanced training. The Storehouse would “invest” in the training when the worker’s increase in earnings is expected to more than pay for the cost of the training. 

The Storehouse would assist with employment.

In Zion 21.0, an arm of the Storehouse would perform several functions related to employment. It can be referred to as the Employment Bureau. The Bureau would counsel with individuals who should be employed but are not. It would assist people who are seeking to improve their employment, including obtaining re-training. It could help members utilize employment programs offered by government and the Church. Where needed, the Bureau would create a job for a person without work.