Join help, please

I am confused. given this view:

AS
SELECT
employee.id ,
work_type.type ,
permit ,
work_type.overhead ,
work_type.descrip
from
permitted_work
inner join employee on
employee.employee_key = permitted_work.employee_key
inner join work_type on
work_type.work_type_key = work_type.work_type_key
;

Why do I have 38475 rows, when the base table only has 855?

My thinking was that the inner joins would constrain this view to the rows
that exist in the base (permitted_work) table.

Clearly I am misunderstanding something basic here.

--
"They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve
neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin