The past year has been a trying time for all Americans owing to the cruel and rather sudden onslaught of the recession. Today, as the nation breaks free of the shackles of a poor economy, gets back on its tottering feet, and takes unsure steps towards a (hopefully) steadier economy, the number of jobs in the market is on a heartening increase.
Yet, there are certain occupations that are still not worthwhile largely due to the combination of factors like grueling work conditions, exacting physical demands, high levels of stress, and very poor income. Here are 6 jobs that are rated the worst in the nation. If you are on the lookout for a job, you may want to steer clear of these ones.
Meter Reader
With almost everything becoming automated, meter reading is a dying profession. With an average salary of less than $35,000 per year, meter readers have very little to look forward to in a job that isn’t the most stimulating one by any means. Work conditions are tough since meter reading professionals are required to carry on no matter what the weather might be like outside. And should they happen to lose their job, they might not be able to find another one (at least in the same field) so easily.
Painter
With the initial slump in construction activity, painting and other professions related to real estate took a really bad hit. Even as things on the construction front are looking up now, the low pay and tough working conditions barely make this job the most lucrative in the world. If you aren’t standing on a precariously positioned ladder straining your muscles reaching for high places, you are constantly inhaling toxic paint fumes all day long. What good can come of that?
Emergency Medical Technician
EMTs are the first guys on the scene of accident and they are responsible for stabilizing the patient before they are transported to the hospital. Although their job is similar to that of doctors and just as demanding and stressful, it comes minus the fat pay that doctors usually make.
The morbid plus point of being an EMT is that the demand for this profession will never wane. Hiring prospects will always be better for them owing to the simple rule of life – accidents are always bound to happen.
Taxi Driver
No matter how glorified the profession is made out to be and how happy, carefree, and jolly they are shown to be in movies, taxi driving is not a particularly nice job. Not only is the pay quite dismal (little more than $2,000 per month), this profession also comes with the added danger of a high crime rate. What’s worse – they are bound by a strict schedule and the company they work for regulates their pickups, lunch hours, and even loo breaks. How would you like being told when you can go to the bathroom?
Lumberjack
If you enjoy being outdoors and don’t mind the physical exertion and danger that comes with the job, lumberjack is a great profession to choose. But after being associated with it for a while you might find yourself changing your mind and looking for something that doesn’t involve so many life-threatening accidents. Besides, the pay is no great shakes and the demand for lumberjacks is falling rapidly with the entire system becoming automated little by little.
Roustabout
They say there is a lot of money in the oil business. A roustabout would beg to differ with you. Entrusted with the task of performing routine maintenance on oil rigs, roustabouts have an average salary that is less than that of a meter-reader’s. In addition, the job is dangerous and roustabouts are isolated from their families for weeks at an end. How’s that for a job perk?
