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Jobs for the boys

Meaning

Favouritism where jobs or other patronage is given to friends and acquaintances.

Origin

The boys in this phrase means any group of men who share a common interest or background. It has been suggested that the phrase derives from the class system in England which used to, and to an extent still does, maintain an 'old boys network'. This confines power and patronage within a closed upper class group, i.e. the 'old boys' of English public schools. There's no record of 'jobs for the boys' being used in a UK context until well into the 20th century though. It had previously been used widely in the USA. For example, this item from the New York newspaper The Syracuse Herald, October 1913:

"Party government isn't organized for efficiency, nor to serve the people. It is organized to provide jobs for the boys."

'Jobs For The Boys' had a different meaning when it was used as a slogan following both WWI and WWII. This was an expression of public gratitude for the demobbed soldiers who were returning home. A 1918 advert for the American United Illuminating Co. promised to:

"Dispel pessimism - create trade, confidence and brightness in the period of reconstruction. We will aid in creating new jobs for the boys in the Service when they return without crowding out those who have taken their place."

The comp nay wasn't shy of missing a marketing opportunity and added to the above that it was the readers' "New Patriotic Duty to Use Electric Signs".