Special Report
Jobs With the Best (and Worst) Job Security
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As a result of the Great Recession, unemployment in the United States peaked at 10.0% in October 2009. Though the overall unemployment rate has improved significantly since then, falling by more than half, recession-level unemployment is the norm in many common occupations.
For many Americans, high unemployment in the wake of the recession underscored the importance of job security in the modern economy.
Currently, roughly 6 million Americans are in occupations with unemployment rates that do not exceed 1%, and are effectively immune to the threat of joblessness. Meanwhile, job security is far from a guarantee for the 14.5 million Americans in professions where the unemployment rate is at least 8.5%.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed unemployment rates by occupation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the workers with the best and worst job security. Across a range of industries and fields, there are 26 occupations with unemployment rates that range from 8.5% to over 25.0%. In another 26 occupations, joblessness is extremely rare, with unemployment rates 1% or less.
Click here to see the jobs with the lowest unemployment.
Click here to see the jobs with the highest unemployment.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
The Jobs With the Lowest Unemployment Rates
Source: Thinkstock
26. Locomotive engineers and operators
> Unemployment rate: 1.0%
> Labor force: 53,000
> Field: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $55,030
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Source: Thinkstock
25. Public relations and fundraising managers
> Unemployment rate: 1.0%
> Labor force: 63,000
> Field: Management
> Median annual wage: $104,140
Source: Thinkstock
24. Precision instrument and equipment repairers
> Unemployment rate: 1.0%
> Labor force: 67,000
> Field: Installation, maintenance, and repair
> Median annual wage: $45,640
Source: Thinkstock
23. Massage therapists
> Unemployment rate: 1.0%
> Labor force: 172,000
> Field: Healthcare support
> Median annual wage: $38,040
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Source: Thinkstock
22. Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers
> Unemployment rate: 1.0%
> Labor force: 387,000
> Field: Protective service
> Median annual wage: $40,580
Source: Thinkstock
21. Respiratory therapists
> Unemployment rate: 0.8%
> Labor force: 85,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $57,79
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Source: Thinkstock
20. Compliance officers
> Unemployment rate: 0.8%
> Labor force: 272,000
> Field: Business and financial operations
> Median annual wage: $65,640
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Source: Thinkstock
19. Chemical technicians
> Unemployment rate: 0.7%
> Labor force: 77,000
> Field: Life, physical, and social science
> Median annual wage: $44,660
Source: Thinkstock
18. Physician’s assistant
> Unemployment rate: 0.7%
> Labor force: 93,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $98,180
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Source: Thinkstock
17. Nurse practitioners
> Unemployment rate: 0.7%
> Labor force: 177,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $98,190
Source: Thinkstock
16. Physical therapists
> Unemployment rate: 0.7%
> Labor force: 292,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $84,020
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Source: Thinkstock
15. Lawyers
> Unemployment rate: 0.7%
> Labor force: 1,141,000
> Field: Legal
> Median annual wage: $115,820
Source: Thinkstock
14. Cost estimators
> Unemployment rate: 0.6%
> Labor force: 114,000
> Field: Business and financial operations
> Median annual wage: $60,390
Source: Thinkstock
13. Training and development managers
> Unemployment rate: 0.5%
> Labor force: 58,000
> Field: Management
> Median annual wage: $102,640
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Source: Thinkstock
12. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
> Unemployment rate: 0.5%
> Labor force: 61,000
> Field: Protective service
> Median annual wage: $59,720
Source: Thinkstock
11. Dental hygienists
> Unemployment rate: 0.5%
> Labor force: 170,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $72,330
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Source: Thinkstock
10. Physicians and surgeons
> Unemployment rate: 0.5%
> Labor force: 1,066,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $202,450
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Source: Thinkstock
9. Veterinarians
> Unemployment rate: 0.4%
> Labor force: 101,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $88,490
Source: Thinkstock
8. Medical scientists
> Unemployment rate: 0.4%
> Labor force: 155,000
> Field: Life, physical, and social science
> Median annual wage: $81,060
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Source: Thinkstock
7. Dentists
> Unemployment rate: 0.4%
> Labor force: 164,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $158,310
Source: Thinkstock
6. Occupational therapists
> Unemployment rate: 0.3%
> Labor force: 118,000
> Field: Healthcare practitioners and technical
> Median annual wage: $80,15
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Source: Thinkstock
5. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
> Unemployment rate: 0.3%
> Labor force: 710,000
> Field: Protective service
> Median annual wage: $58,320
Source: Thinkstock
4. Directors, religious activities and education
> Unemployment rate: 0.2%
> Labor force: 78,000
> Field: Community and social service
> Median annual wage: $38,780
Source: Thinkstock
3. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
> Unemployment rate: 0.2%
> Labor force: 78,000
> Field: Production
> Median annual wage: $58,530
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Source: Thinkstock
2. Biological scientists
> Unemployment rate: 0.2%
> Labor force: 96,000
> Field: Life, physical, and social science
> Median annual wage: $72,220
Source: Thinkstock
1. Construction and building inspectors
> Unemployment rate: 0.1%
> Labor force: 93,000
> Field: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $57,340
The Jobs With the Highest Unemployment Rates
Source: Thinkstock
26. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
> Unemployment rate: 8.5%
> Labor force: 91,000
> Field: Production
> Median annual wage: $31,280
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Source: Thinkstock
25. Painters, construction and maintenance
> Unemployment rate: 8.5%
> Labor force: 669,000
> Field: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $36,580
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Source: Thinkstock
24. Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop
> Unemployment rate: 8.6%
> Labor force: 234,000
> Field: Food preparation and serving related
> Median annual wage: $19,230
Source: Thinkstock
23. Drafters
> Unemployment rate: 8.9%
> Labor force: 120,000
> Field: Architecture and engineering
> Median annual wage: $52,720
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Source: Thinkstock
22. Cashiers
> Unemployment rate: 8.9%
> Labor force: 3,577,000
> Field: Sales and related
> Median annual wage: $19,320
Source: Thinkstock
21. Insulation workers
> Unemployment rate: 9.2%
> Labor force: 55,000
> Field: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $38,630
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Source: Thinkstock
20. Grounds maintenance workers
> Unemployment rate: 9.2%
> Labor force: 1,553,000
> Field: Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
> Median annual wage: $25,610
Source: Thinkstock
19. Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
> Unemployment rate: 9.4%
> Labor force: 177,000
> Field: Sales and related
> Median annual wage: $22,210
Source: Thinkstock
18. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
> Unemployment rate: 9.7%
> Labor force: 168,000
> Field: Office and administrative support
> Median annual wage: $31,410
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Source: Thinkstock
17. Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
> Unemployment rate: 9.7%
> Labor force: 465,000
> Field: Food preparation and serving related
> Median annual wage: $18,910
Source: Thinkstock
16. Helpers, construction trades
> Unemployment rate: 9.8%
> Labor force: 63,000
> Field: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $28,380
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Source: Thinkstock
15. Lifeguards and other recreational, and all other protective service workers
> Unemployment rate: 9.8%
> Labor force: 165,000
> Field: Protective service
> Median annual wage: $19,500
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Source: Thinkstock
14. Roofers
> Unemployment rate: 9.8%
> Labor force: 255,000
> Field: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $36,720
13. Construction laborers
> Unemployment rate: 9.9%
> Labor force: 1,998,000
> Field: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $31,910
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Source: Thinkstock
12. Dishwashers
> Unemployment rate: 10.2%
> Labor force: 355,000
> Field: Food preparation and serving related
> Median annual wage: $19,340
Source: Thinkstock
11. Miscellaneous agricultural workers
> Unemployment rate: 10.6%
> Labor force: 915,000
> Field: Farming, fishing, and forestry
> Median annual wage: $20,080
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Source: Thinkstock
10. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
> Unemployment rate: 10.7%
> Labor force: 2,129,000
> Field: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $25,010
Source: Thinkstock
9. Packers and packagers, hand
> Unemployment rate: 10.9%
> Labor force: 617,000
> Field: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $21,010
Source: Thinkstock
8. Cutting workers
> Unemployment rate: 11.0%
> Labor force: 75,000
> Field: Production
> Median annual wage: $30,970
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Source: Thinkstock
7. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
> Unemployment rate: 11.0%
> Labor force: 369,000
> Field: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $21,310
Source: Thinkstock
6. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
> Unemployment rate: 11.4%
> Labor force: 63,000
> Field: Production
> Median annual wage: $32,270
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Source: Thinkstock
5. Tax preparers
> Unemployment rate: 12.3%
> Labor force: 123,000
> Field: Business and financial operations
> Median annual wage: $36,450
Source: Thinkstock
4. Graders and sorters, agricultural products
> Unemployment rate: 14.9%
> Labor force: 100,000
> Field: Farming, fishing, and forestry
> Median annual wage: $21,100
Source: Thinkstock
3. Telemarketers
> Unemployment rate: 15.1%
> Labor force: 72,000
> Field: Sales and related
> Median annual wage: $23,530
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Source: Thinkstock
2. Models, demonstrators, and product promoters
> Unemployment rate: 23.4%
> Labor force: 77,000
> Field: Sales and related
> Median annual wage: $24,97
Source: Thinkstock
1. Actors
> Unemployment rate: 26.6%
> Labor force: 64,000
> Field: Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media
> Median annual wage: N/A
Detailed Findings:
An occupation’s unemployment rate is often indicative of demand. Many of the jobs with highest unemployment rates are falling in demand in the United States due to a number of economic forces. For example, two jobs with especially high unemployment rates are in farming, fishing and forestry, a sector that will shed an estimated 57,200 jobs between 2014 and 2024 due to industry consolidation and improved farming technologies. Three other jobs with the highest unemployment rates are in production occupations, or manufacturing, an industry projected to shed jobs in the coming years due to increased automation.
Meanwhile, for most jobs with the lowest unemployment rates, demand will not likely wane anytime soon. Of the 26 jobs with virtually no unemployment, 10 are in health care, an industry projected to add some 2.3 million jobs between 2014 and 2024. Particularly fast growth in the health care sector is largely attributable to the rapidly growing elderly population that will require more regular medical care as well as to the increasing number of Americans with health insurance coverage.
Jobs with low unemployment rates also tend to have highly skilled, better-paid workers. Most workers in jobs with unemployment rates at or below 1.0%, such as lawyers and public relations managers, require at least a college education, with many requiring a postgraduate degree.
With a higher educational barrier to entry, qualified workers in these fields are relatively scarce and command higher salaries. All 26 occupations with the lowest unemployment rates have a higher annual median salary than the the $36,200 median across all occupations.
In contrast, workers in high unemployment occupations tend to be low skilled and receive below average compensation. Occupations such as cashiers, dishwashers, and ground maintenance workers have no formal educational requirements and typically pay between $19,300 and $25,600 annually. The median salary for 20 of the 26 occupations with the highest unemployment is lower than is typical across all U.S. jobs.
Methodology:
To identify the 26 jobs with the best job security and the 26 jobs with the worst job security, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2016 unemployment rates for 334 occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We only considered occupations with a labor force of 50,000 or more. Unemployed members of an occupational labor force need to have been last employed in this occupation prior to unemployment. Employment projections from 2014 through 2024 came from the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), published annually by the BLS. Median annual wage, as well as hourly rate when applicable, also came from the BLS. Annual wages exclude wages of part-time workers in a given profession.
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