How to define a good job

An "economic scene" article by economist Alan Krueger in the NYT discusses how economists distinguish between "good" and "bad" jobs. Neoclassical economists, as Kreuger notes, make no such distinction:

All workers are supposed to be in jobs that reward them appropriately for their performance, which depends on their skills and effort. Supply and demand for workers determine their appropriate pay, benefits and working conditions, and there is little else to say.

In this view, all jobs are good jobs, because pay is based on merit. There are good and bad workers, which is why pay varies, but not good and bad jobs.

If an employer offered more than the prevailing wage and benefits for a job, he or she would be besieged by a queue of willing workers who would bid the wage down to the competitive level. Any profit-maximizing employer would not pay more than is necessary, so competitive pressures should eliminate unusually good jobs.

This, however, is only one perspective. As they say, go read it yourself.