No that isn't what Tainter suggested. Tainter's theory was that as society gets more complex it's problems get more complex and the resources allocated to solving those problems yield diminishing returns.

He referred to 4 or 5 causes of the collapse of the roman economy of which one was taxation. The growing military, with the forced conscription that went along with it. Foreign campaigns and their cost, tribute paid to germanic tribes, the devaluation of the currency growing beurocracy and lastly, the increase in taxes to pay for the above.

If I remember correctly he also charicterized the present day (the 80's) arms race as an example of the type of complex problem that creates a misallocation of a society's resources.

oh, and your wrong about jobs too.