Yes, some jobs are the same here.
The main question is: do you create a job because there's some work to be done, or do you create a job because somebody needs a job?
Do you have an evidence of the latter, or this is purely hypothetical? (An honest question.)
Common knowledge, see earlier link, some googling will easily give you more info.
Lots of older people in Easter Europe think communistic days were better and wish they could go back: state provided housing, education, healthcare and a job. Not great, but basic (as in basic income).
You are implying that this was dictated by political rather than economical reasons, but that may be not entirely correct.
> we pretend to work
This is true - for some workers. Thing is, the Western society in not and has never been different in this regard. And, some of the "job creation" policies could exacerbate the problem even more.