Special Report

Worst Jobs in America

A recent CNBC/SurveyMonkey poll found that 85% of Americans are either somewhat satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. Workers generally need good pay, a positive work environment, a manageable stress level, and a positive outlook for the future to feel good about their job. Employers are largely responsible for ensuring a positive working environment for their employees, but there are some occupations that are low paying, stressful, or dangerous for many workers in that field.

To determine the worst jobs in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from jobs website CareerCast’s 2019 Jobs Rated Report. Supplemental data on median annual wages and total employment count came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics Program and is for 2018. Data on projected job growth from 2018 to 2028 came from the BLS Employment Projections program.

While many of the jobs on this list have low satisfaction due to low pay and/or high stress, others rank poorly because they are very dangerous. Some jobs require workers to use hazardous equipment or put themselves in harm’s way. These are the most dangerous jobs in America.

Due to automation, changing consumer preferences, and other factors, many of these jobs have already faced uncertain economic futures going into 2020. With the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, some of the companies employing these workers are scrambling to stay afloat. Construction, entertainment, and retail workers have all been sent home due to physical distancing orders, putting a financial squeeze on some lower-income workers. These are the U.S. industries being devastated by the coronavirus.

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