A new study says journalists have the worst jobs because of the low pay and high stress
Newspaper reporters have the worst jobs while actuaries (someone versed in the collection and interpretation of numerical data, usually a a person who deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty) has the best jobs in the world.
The finding comes from US recruitment website CareerCast that released its 2013 list ranking of the 200 best and worst jobs of 2013.
Ever-shrinking newsrooms, dwindling budgets and competition from Internet businesses have created very difficult conditions for newspaper reporters.
Actuaries, on the other hand have a low stress, high pay job and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Salary Median of an actuary is $87,650 with a projected job growth of 27%.
Other best jobs topping the list include biomedical engineer, software engineer, audiologist and financial planner. They all fit the bill because they help professionals who hold the jobs attain their ultimate career goal: personal fulfillment.
Besides that, they are jobs with a high pay, low stress, a robust hiring outlook, a healthy work environment and minimal physical exertion.
Study methodology: To quantify the many facets of the 200 jobs included in our report, four core critieria were determined. These include environment, income, outlook and stress. Much of the data used to evaluate each job comes from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as well as from a range of other governmental agencies, trade associations and private survey firms.
You better love your job. An interesting statistic: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates, the average employee spends more than two-thirds of his or her day at work or on work-related activities. That’s more time a person spends sleeping or raising children.
Actuaries speak up: Interestingly, the website's reports have comments by users who claim to be actuaries themselves.
"I've put in about 40 years of work in the 25 years I've been an actuary. If you're an actuary and you think your job is low stress, please tell me where you work," says one user.
While another, who claims to be an international consulting actuary says that although the job is financially rewarding, the qualifying exams are hard and require a lot of studying. The commentator also said, "I have been working 50-60 hour weeks for 25 years and it is very stressful - clients are demanding, travel is frustrating".
And the best jobs are:
1. Actuary
2. Biomedical Engineer
3. Software Engineer
4. Audiologist
5. Financial Planner
6. Dental Hygienist
7. Occupational Therapist
8. Optometrist
9. Physical Therapist
10. Computer Systems Analyst
The worst ones:
1. Newspaper Reporter
2. Lumberjack
3. Enlisted Military Personnel
4. Actor
5. Oil Rig Worker
6. Dairy Farmer
7. Meter Reader
8. Mail Carrier
9. Roofer
10. Flight Attendant
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