The Ten Worst Jobs For 2011

Looking for work?  You may want to take a look at the list below.  According to Forbes, these are the positions with the gloomiest outlook for 2011.  Next up we’ll talk about the ten best.  Job desirability is measured based on five criteria: pay, outlook, work environment, stress and physical demand.

The jobs listed below offer a combination of abysmal pay, high risk of physical injury, stressful conditions, or other undesirable working conditions.

Without further ado, The Ten Worst Jobs in the US are:

• Roustabout – Main job duties include routine maintenance and labor on oil rigs and pipelines.  The pay is low and the risk for injury is high.
• Iron Worker – These guys raise steel structures to create buildings and bridges.  It is another highly physical job with relatively low pay.
• Lumberjack – Job duties include felling, cutting, and transporting lumber to be utilized for various purposes.  This job is not only extremely dangerous physically, it also ranks high for stress.
• Roofer – Whether they’re installing new roofs, repairing existing roofs, or replacing old ones, this job is not for the faint of heart.  Dangerous work environments and high physical demands combine to make roofing a physically stressful and demanding career choice.
• Taxi Driver – Responsible for transporting travelers to and from various destinations, taxi drivers must know their area well and be prepared for a variety of situations.  Taxi drivers experience hazardous road conditions, inclement weather, and difficult clientele on a daily basis.
• Emergency Medical Technician – EMTs tend to emergent medical situations that run the spectrum from car accidents to gunshot wounds.  This job is fast-paced, high stress, and physically demanding.
• Welder – Welders repair and bond metal surfaces.  Dangerous tools, high temperatures, and ever changing surfaces make this physically demanding career dangerous.
• Painter – We were a bit surprised to see this on the list, but painters have extremely high physical demands in addition to potentially dangerous working conditions.  Scaffolding, dangerous chemicals, and perilous reaches put this position on the list.
• Meter Reader – Long days, physical demands, and not a lot of room for advancement make meter reading one of the worst jobs in America.  Add in a not so great hiring outlook and disgruntled neighborhood pets, and you can see why this job is not a favorite.
• Construction Worker – This generic term covers anyone assisting in construction trade work.  Often physically demanding and dangerous, these workers do a lot for little in return.

High physical demands, stress, and low pay combine to create the list above.  Your job doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?  😉  Do you agree with this list?  Is there anything that didn’t make the list that should have?