Special Report
Jobs With the Best (and Worst) Job Security
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The U.S. unemployment rate reached 10% in October 2009, the highest since 1983, and the peak since the Great Recession ended in June 2009. Since then, unemployment has fallen steadily to its current level of 4.9%.
Not all the nation’s industries have recovered at the same pace. Increased job opportunities and wage hikes have been far more common in some professions than in others. Just 0.1% of Americans who currently work or previously worked as dentists are unemployed, the lowest occupational unemployment rate in the country. By contrast, 26.1% of actors are out of a job, the highest unemployment rate in the country.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 24/7 Wall St. identified the 25 jobs with the highest unemployment rates and the 25 jobs with the lowest unemployment rates.
Click here to see the jobs with the best (and worst) job security.
According to Emy Sok, economist at the Division of Labor Force Statistics at the BLS, “You can look at an unemployment rate as an indicator of demand.” Many of the professions offering the highest job security are in fields the BLS projects continued employment growth. Health sector positions, for example, are projected to grow considerably faster through 2024 than the national average employment growth. Eleven of the 25 occupations with the lowest unemployment rates are health-related professions. No other industry is better-represented among professions with low unemployment.
For many of the occupations with the lowest job security, on the other hand, the applicant pool tends to be far larger than the demand for these workers. More people compete for these positions because “there is a lower threshold for skills involved,” Sok said. Jobs at the other end of the spectrum, such as legal professions or occupations in the medical field, require more specialized training and therefore there is a higher barrier to entry, Sok explained.
Older Americans are not just more likely to consume health services, but they are also more commonly employed in health professions — or any job requiring greater experience and training — compared to younger Americans. Younger members of the workforce are far more likely to be unemployed than older Americans. As Sok suggested, the rapid growth of the nation’s older population may itself account for the rapid decline in unemployment in recent years.
The different training and educational requirements of high and low unemployment professions also explains the wage disparities. Jobs with low unemployment levels tend to require greater levels of education and, perhaps as a result, tend to pay far better than occupations with less job security. Of the 25 jobs with the lowest unemployment rates, the median annual wage exceeds the national figure in all but one case. The median annual wage for workers in only five of the 25 jobs with the highest unemployment rates exceeds the national annual median of $35,540.
To identify the 25 jobs with the best and worst job security, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2015 unemployment rates for 310 occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For statistics purposes, we only considered occupations with a labor force greater than 65,000. 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.
These are the jobs with the highest (and lowest) job security.
The Jobs with the Lowest Unemployment Rates
25. Eligibility interviewers for government programs
> Unemployment rate: 1.2%
> Labor force: 75,000
> Industry: Office and administrative support
> Median annual wage: $42,200
Employment in the government sector can be relatively stable, as many positions are needed in both robust and weak economic climates. Interviewers who determine the eligibility of persons applying to receive public resources, including welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing have relatively secure positions. In a strong economy, there is likely less pressure to lay off these workers, and in a weak economy, the need for interviewers is likely augmented by an increase in the number of applicants. Just 1.2% of the roughly 75,000 people who either currently hold this position or held it as their last job are unemployed.
24. Dental hygienists
> Unemployment rate: 1.2%
> Labor force: 179,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: $71,520
As is the case with many other health professions, dental hygienists are in demand, and Americans pursuing such a career have better prospects than many other job seekers. Not only are just 1.2% of hygienists unemployed, but also the BLS estimates 37,400 additional hygienists will be needed through 2024. This would be a 19% growth over about a decade — much faster than the national growth outlook.
23. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
> Unemployment rate: 1.2%
> Labor force: 100,000
> Industry: Community and social service
> Median annual wage: $49,060
The United States is home to 20% of the world’s imprisoned population, by far the highest share of any country. Roughly one in 35 U.S. adults are either incarcerated, on parole, or on probation. One direct consequence is an abundance of jobs tied to the criminal justice system. With such high demand, the unemployment rate among probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is only 1.2%, one of the lowest of any profession in the country. While those in the field enjoy an uncommon level of job security, the work can be both stressful and dangerous as it involves working with ex-convicts, often in high crime areas.
22. Psychologists
> Unemployment rate: 1.2%
> Labor force: 195,000
> Industry: Life, physical, and social science
> Median annual wage: $70,700
At 1.2%, psychologists have the lowest unemployment rate of any specialization within the life, physical, and social sciences occupations. According to the BLS, the field is expected to grow by 19% over the next decade, a much faster rate than the average occupation. One reason for the projected growth may be the nation’s increasing elderly population, currently at its largest in history. Increased incidence of diseases and daily life difficulties can also increase the needs of the aging population for help in coping with these challenges. In 2013, the American Board of Professional Psychology established geropsychology as a new area of specialization, a branch of the science specifically concerned with the treatment of older persons.
21. Medical and health services managers
> Unemployment rate: 1.2%
> Labor force: 644,000
> Industry: Management
> Median annual wage: $92,810
While the unemployment rate of 2.2% in management occupations is much lower than the 4.7% unemployment rate across all industries and occupations in the country, unemployment in the medical and health services management field is even lower. Only 1.2% of the 644,000 workers in the field are out of a job. Those employed in the field are responsible for managing health care facilities, organizing the delivery of health care services, and ensuring compliance with changing laws and regulations. Low unemployment in the field and the much faster than average job growth projection may be the direct result of increasing health insurance coverage rates under the Affordable Care Act.
20. Physical therapists
> Unemployment rate: 1.1%
> Labor force: 277,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: $82,390
A large share of jobs in the health care sector have very low unemployment. The growing need for medical care arises from the growing rate of health insurance coverage in this country, as well as the increasing size of the nation’s elderly population. Physical therapists have benefitted from this phenomenon and have a small 1.1% unemployment rate. According to the BLS, “Older people are more likely to experience heart attacks, strokes, and mobility-related injuries that require physical therapy for rehabilitation.”
19. Public relations specialists
> Unemployment rate: 1.1%
> Labor force: 149,000
> Industry: Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media
> Median annual wage: $55,680
Public relations specialists work to create and preserve a positive public image for their clients. The industry has changed considerably over the last several decades. Almost every consumer-facing company now has a social media presence, a significant pillar of modern marketing strategy. As the channels for companies to reach the public grow, so does the need for public relation specialists. Just 1.1% of public relations specialists are unemployed, one of the lowest unemployment rates of any occupation. A typical job in the industry requires a bachelor’s degree and pays about $56,000 a year.
18. Lawyers
> Unemployment rate: 1.1%
> Labor force: 1,173,000
> Industry: Legal
> Median annual wage: $114,970
Much has been made about the waning need for new lawyers in the U.S. in recent years. A law degree is now much less likely to translate to a job at a firm. According to one estimate, only 60% of the 2014 class of law school students found full, long-term employment within 10 months that required bar certification. Still, those who are able to find jobs practicing law appear highly likely to hold on to them, with the unemployment rate among lawyers at just 1.1%.
17. Clergy
> Unemployment rate: 1.1%
> Labor force: 474,000
> Industry: Community and social service
> Median annual wage: $43,950
Of the 474,000 clergy workers, 1.1% are looking for work. Americans in these professions perform spiritual activities related to religious faith and often provide moral guidance and assistance to participants. While the job climate seems relatively strong for clergy workers, the profession’s outlook may soon change considerably. A recent study from Pew Research Center found that the share of the U.S. population who identifies as Christian is declining, while people who not identify with any religion are growing.
24/7 Wall St. 16. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
> Unemployment rate: 1.0%
> Labor force: 695,000
> Industry: Protective services
> Median annual wage: N/A
The unemployment rate among police officers is especially low. Only about 1% of those who work in law enforcement are unemployed, a significantly smaller share than the 4.7% unemployment rate across all occupations in the country. The vast majority of police and sheriff’s patrol officers work for local governments. While jobs in law enforcement are relatively secure, they can also be physically demanding and often dangerous.
15. Database administrators
> Unemployment rate: 1.0%
> Labor force: 94,000
> Industry: Computers and mathematics
> Median annual wage: $80,280
Database administrators use software to help store and manage data. As is the case with most jobs with low unemployment rates, the data administrator profession is expected to grow over the next decade. Through 2024, the BLS estimates a faster than average 11% employment growth in the field. The Internet, which has made the collection and distribution of data far easier than ever before, has contributed to the relatively recent explosion of digital information. The ever-increasing amount of data may only strengthen the demand for database-related professions.
14. Court, municipal, and license clerks
> Unemployment rate: 0.9%
> Labor force: 72,000
> Industry: Office and administrative support
> Median annual wage: $35,460
Clerks who perform routine tasks in court, municipal, and licensing offices have relatively high job security. A relatively niche field, most such jobs are in the public sphere. Of the 71,000 clerks employed across the country, 30,000 work within local governments, 27,000 in state governments, and 8,000 with the federal government. Government jobs are often more stable than their private sector equivalents. Likely due to its public nature, workers looking for a job in this field fare better than other clerical specialties. While just 0.9% of court, municipal and license clerks are looking for a job, 4.7% of the office and administrative support workforce is unemployed overall.
24/7 Wall St. 13. Respiratory therapists
> Unemployment rate: 0.8%
> Labor force: 109,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: $56,730
Many jobs in the health care industry are relatively secure. Unemployment across the industry is a relatively low 1.7%. The unemployment rate in the specialized field of respiratory therapists is even lower at 0.8%. Respiratory therapists typically work in hospitals with patients of all ages who have trouble breathing. Respiratory therapists are in high demand as, along with very low unemployment, the number of jobs in this specialized field are projected to expand by a relatively rapid 12% through 2024.
12. Chiropractors
> Unemployment rate: 0.8%
> Labor force: 76,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: $66,720
The number of chiropractors is expected to grow by 17% through 2024, above average growth compared to the national job market. Less than 1% of workers in the field are unemployed, one of the lowest jobless rates of any profession. According to the BLS, interest in alternative forms of health care is growing in the United States. Chiropractic treatment in particular could be appealing for its use of nonsurgical and nondrug methods.
11. Aerospace engineers
> Unemployment rate: 0.8%
> Labor force: 139,000
> Industry: Architecture and engineering
> Median annual wage: $105,380
While the majority of aerospace engineers work for private companies, the federal government often contracts these companies to design and manufacture aircraft and missiles as well as spacecraft. Aerospace engineers are among the least likely workers in the country to be out of a job. A highly specialized field, aerospace engineering is one of only 14 job fields where unemployment is less than 1%. While demand for many jobs with similarly low unemployment rates is projected to grow in the next 10 years, the same cannot be said for aerospace engineers. The BLS projects the number of jobs in the field will decline by 2% through 2024.
10. Statisticians
> Unemployment rate: 0.8%
> Labor force: 87,000
> Industry: Computers and mathematics
> Median annual wage: $79,990
Statisticians collect and analyze data. They work for any organization that can benefit from this analysis, including businesses in the fields of education, marketing, psychology, sports, medicine, government, and entertainment among others. The widespread and increasing adoption of smartphone and Internet technologies generates larger amounts of valuable data, which businesses can capitalize on through analysis. Employment of statisticians is expected to grow by 34% over the next decade, faster than other mathematical science occupations and much faster than the 7% growth rate across all occupations. Today, statisticians are most highly concentrated in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts.
9. Nurse practitioners
> Unemployment rate: 0.7%
> Labor force: 150,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: $95,350
Just 0.7% of the nurse practitioner workforce is unemployed, the ninth lowest unemployment rate of any profession in the country. Nurse practitioners perform a range of medical duties such as medical tests and patient diagnosis. Most nurses work in the offices of physicians and hospitals. The U.S. population is older than it has ever been, and as the share of elderly Americans continues to grow, so does job security within the medical professions. Overall, health care practitioners are tied with legal practitioners for the lowest unemployment rate of any industry. Jobs with higher education requirements tend to also be more secure. All nurse practitioner positions require a specialized master’s degree.
8. Physicians and surgeons
> Unemployment rate: 0.6%
> Labor force: 1,013,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: N/A
Many occupations with the lowest unemployment rates are in the health care industry. Only about 1.7% of all industry workers are out of a job. Unemployment is even lower in some positions that require highly skilled workers. Only 0.6% of physicians and surgeons are unemployed, one of the lowest employment rates in the country. With more and more Americans gaining coverage under the Affordable Care Act, medical doctors are in high demand. The number of jobs in the field is projected to grow 14% through 2024, much faster than the average growth for all occupations.
7. Directors of religious activities and education
> Unemployment rate: 0.6%
> Labor force: 78,000
> Industry: Community and social services
> Median annual wage: $38,480
Directors of religious activities and education are responsible for running programs associated with a particular denominational group. Despite the director title, these positions are not particularly lucrative, with a median annual wage of $38,480. Still, the position appears to have high job security, as just 0.6% of the 78,000 religious activity directors are unemployed.
6. Computer network architects
> Unemployment rate: 0.6%
> Labor force: 115,000
> Industry: Computers and mathematics
> Median annual wage: $98,430
Computer network architects design and build communication systems such as local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) for organizations and businesses. While no formal certification is required, network architects typically have about five to 10 years of experience working with information technology systems, and usually have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field before securing the position. While the occupation’s 0.6% unemployment rate is one of the lowest of any job in the country, this job security may not last. As businesses continue to adopt cloud computing technology, many organizations will no longer need to design their own in-house network. As a result, the demand for such network designers may decline.
5. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
> Unemployment rate: 0.4%
> Labor force: 141,000
> Industry: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $103,390
Government jobs tend to weather economic fluctuations better than private sector jobs. Since a number of aircraft pilots and flight engineers are employed in government jobs, this could partially explain the stable employment conditions for this occupation. Many pilots do not need a formal education beyond a high school diploma, although prospective employees need to complete several certifications and licensures, including the pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Airline Transport Pilot certificate. The typical annual pay for the position is $103,390.
4. Diagnostic technologists and technicians
> Unemployment rate: 0.4%
> Labor force: 323,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: $59,560
Diagnostic technologists and technicians are employed primarily in the medical field. The position requires highly specialized knowledge of medical diagnostic equipment. Technologists and technicians work in one of five major areas: cardiovascular, sonography, nuclear medicine, radiology, and MRI scanning. As is the case with much of the medical profession, these are highly stable positions, and just 0.4% of workers are unemployed.
3. Veterinarians
> Unemployment rate: 0.4%
> Labor force: 90,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: $87,590
The veterinary profession is projected to grow by 9% through 2024, faster than most occupations. Still, according to the BLS, prospective animal doctors should still expect fierce competition for veterinarian positions. According to the nonprofit research group American Pet Products Association, Americans spent $15.7 billion on vet care in 2015, up considerably from the expenditure of $8 billion in 2000.
2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
> Unemployment rate: 0.3%
> Labor force: 110,000
> Industry: Protective services
> Median annual wage: $80,930
Supervisors of police officers and detectives oversee regular police work and ensure legal compliance, both in police field work and in documentation and record keeping. Professional police supervisors are unlikely to find themselves out of work for long, if at all, as it is one of only five jobs in the country where unemployment is below 0.5%. Police supervisor jobs tend to be concentrated in major metropolitan areas as roughly two-thirds of workers in New York work in the New York metro area, and roughly 70% of police supervisors in Illinois work in the Chicago metropolitan area.
24/7 Wall St. 1. Dentists
> Unemployment rate: 0.1%
> Labor force: 196,000
> Industry: Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
> Median annual wage: $154,640
Many health professions have some of the lowest unemployment rates of all occupations. Within the medical occupations, none has greater job security — or a higher median wage — than dentists. Only 0.1% of the occupation’s labor force is unemployed, and the typical dentist practicing in the U.S. earns $154,640. The demand for dental care will likely only increase as the population continues to age and access to health insurance continues to rise.
The Jobs with the Highest Unemployment Rates
25. Dishwashers
> Unemployment rate: 9.0%
> Labor force: 309,000
> Industry: Food preparation and service
> Median annual wage: $18,780
The low pay and physically demanding work involved in dishwashing likely contributes to the job’s high turnover rate, which in turn likely drives up the number of jobless Americans who previously worked as dishwashers. The typical dishwasher is paid $18,780 annually, one of the lowest wages of any job available in the United States. Dishwashers, as well as cooks, chefs, and janitors, are also not permitted by law to receive a share of tips.
24. Food preparation workers
> Unemployment rate: 9.0%
> Labor force: 943,000
> Industry: Food preparation and service
> Median annual wage: $19,560
Typically employed in hotels and restaurants, food preparation workers are responsible for support tasks in the kitchen, such as peeling vegetables or slicing meat. There are more than 940,000 food preparation workers in the U.S., and 9% of them are out of work. Like many occupations with high unemployment rates, there is no formal education requirement for food preparation workers, and most necessary skills are learned on the job. Also similar to most other occupations with high unemployment rates, wages are relatively low in the field. The typical food prep worker makes less than $20,000 a year.
23. Sewing machine operators
> Unemployment rate: 9.1%
> Labor force: 216,000
> Industry: Production
> Median annual wage: $21,920
Likely due in large part to outsourcing of manufacturing and production jobs, unemployment is high among sewing machine operators. More than 9% of workers in the field are out of a job. Employment in the field is not likely to improve anytime soon. The number of jobs available for sewing machine operators is projected to decrease by 27% over the next decade. Like many occupations with high unemployment, no formal education is required for sewing machine operators, and annual salaries are relatively low.
22. Door-to-door sales workers and news and street vendors
> Unemployment rate: 9.2%
> Labor force: 172,000
> Industry: Sales
> Median annual wage: $21,530
While street vendors still have a market in major cities across the United States, door-to-door sales workers and related jobs are relatively antiquated. Unemployment among both door-to-door sales workers and street vendors is relatively high. Roughly 9.2% of workers in the field are unemployed compared a total unemployment rate of about 4.7% across the U.S.
24/7 Wall St. 21. Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons
> Unemployment rate: 9.3%
> Labor force: 190,000
> Industry: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $46,060
Higher education requirements tend to correspond with greater job security, and vice versa. To become a masonry worker, one does not usually need much more than a high school diploma. Nevertheless, a typical mason can expect to make $46,060 a year, about $10,000 more than the median annual wage across all occupations. Masonry employment is heavily tied to the construction industry, which took a major hit in the Great Recession. Employment in the field is expected to grow by 15% over the next decade, however, as population growth and a rebounding housing market will increase construction demand.
20. Cooks
> Unemployment rate: 9.7%
> Labor force: 2,315,000
> Industry: Food preparation and service
> Median annual wage: $21,120
Roughly 224,000 cooks in the United States are unemployed, more people than in all but two other occupations. The unemployment rate is also very high at nearly 10% of all cooks looking for work, a considerably higher unemployment rate than the 4.7% national figure. Employment figures may not improve in the near future as the number of available jobs is projected to grow by only 4% through 2024, a relatively slow rate. For those who are employed as cooks, pay is relatively low. The typical cook makes only about $21,000 annually.
19. Cashiers
> Unemployment rate: 9.8%
> Labor force: 3,599,000
> Industry: Sales
> Median annual wage: $19,070
More than 3.2 million people work as cashiers in the private sector, making it the third largest occupation outside of the public sector. Unemployment in the profession, however, is also high with roughly 353,000 unemployed people who last worked as cashiers and are now jobless, more than any other line of work in the country. As is the case in many occupations with high unemployment rates, cashiers are low skilled and low paid workers. There is no formal education required for an entry level position, and the typical cashier makes only $19,070 a year.
24/7 Wall St. 18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
> Unemployment rate: 9.8%
> Labor force: 375,000
> Industry: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $20,670
More than a 330,000 Americans are employed as cleaners of vehicles and equipment, including personal and commercial vehicles. An additional 37,000 such workers are now unemployed. Like the vast majority of jobs with high unemployment rates, these are relatively low-skill, low-pay jobs. Barely half of all jobs in this field require a high school diploma, and the median annual wage is $20,670, or less than 60% of the national median wage.
17. Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
> Unemployment rate: 9.8%
> Labor force: 2,116,000
> Industry: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $24,430
Jobs that require less formal education often have less job security. No educational background is needed to become a hand laborer, which may partially explain the occupation’s 9.8% unemployment rate. Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers typically work in warehouses, loading and unloading cargo and ensuring proper delivery. Unskilled labor also tends to pay less, and the occupation’s $24,430 median annual wage is one of the lowest in the country.
16. Models, demonstrators, and product promoters
> Unemployment rate: 10.1%
> Labor force: 76,000
> Industry: Sales
> Median annual wage: $24,460
Though higher education is not a requirement for models, demonstrators, and product promoters, qualifications include communication skills, likability, and often a pleasant appearance. Jobs in the field typically involve attracting potential customers to a product or service. Incomes for workers in the field tend to be low, while the unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country. The typical model, demonstrator or product promoter makes only $24,460 annually, and roughly 10% of workers in the field are out of a job.
15. Computer operators
> Unemployment rate: 10.1%
> Labor force: 77,000
> Industry: Office and administrative support occupations
> Median annual wage: $39,590
The computer operator classification was more relevant before the advent of the personal computer, when mainframe computers required significant maintenance and attention. The role of a computer operator today is somewhat different and mostly consists of monitoring error messages and data entry. About one in every 10 computer operators is unemployed, a figure that may increase as employment in the field is expected to decline by 19% over the next decade.
14. Grounds maintenance workers
> Unemployment rate: 10.6%
> Labor force: 1,508,000
> Industry: Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
> Median annual wage: $24,810
More than 1.3 million people currently earn a living as grounds and maintenance workers, making it one of the largest occupations in the country. With 159,000 unemployed people who last worked as groundskeepers and maintenance workers currently looking for a job, it is also the second most common occupation with an unemployment rate in excess of 10%. According to the BLS, while unemployment in the occupation is relatively high, opportunities for employment are expected to increase by 6% between 2014 and 2024, roughly in line with the average occupation growth rate. These occupations are often seasonal, which may explain the high unemployment rate.
13. Cutting workers
> Unemployment rate: 10.9%
> Labor force: 72,000
> Industry: Production
> Median annual wage: $30,650
The cutting worker classification encompasses a variety of occupations, from cutting and trimming manufactured items such as carpet or glass to operating machines that cut materials such as tobacco, rubber, or cork. Roughly 11% of the 72,000 workers in the field are unemployed, one of the highest unemployment rates of any occupation in the country. By contrast, unemployment in the broader production industry is only 5.7% and it is an even lower 4.7% across all occupations.
12. Counter, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop attendants
> Unemployment rate: 11.3%
> Labor force: 263,000
> Industry: Food preparation and service
> Median annual wage: $18,740
Like many occupations with high unemployment, a position as an attendant at a concession stand or eatery pays relatively little and requires effectively no specialized education. These individuals, which include wait staff, as well as counter attendants, earn an average hourly wage of just $9.50. These factors, as well as the seasonal nature of many of these jobs, likely contribute to the relatively high unemployment rate of more than one in 10 attendants.
11. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
> Unemployment rate: 11.4%
> Labor force: 109,000
> Industry: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $33,660
Unemployment is relatively high among garbage and recycling collection workers. Roughly 11.4% of workers in the field are unemployed, a much larger share than the 4.7% unemployment rate across all jobs in the United States. In some parts of the country, garbage collection is a coveted job. In New York City, 90,000 people applied for a municipal sanitation job in 2014. Only about 500 were hired, an acceptance rate of only 0.5%. While the typical garbage collector in the country earns only $33,660 a year, a garbage collector in New York City can expect to earn $47,371 in his or her first year on the job.
10. Construction laborers
> Unemployment rate: 11.5%
> Labor force: 1,863,000
> Industry: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $31,090
With nearly 1.6 million workers employed in the field, construction jobs are among the most common in the United States. While many construction jobs call for some degree of skill and substantial physical labor, formal education is not typically required as most workers learn their skills on the job. The occupation employs more people than all but a handful of others in the country, and a relatively large share of construction workers are unemployed. About 214,000, or nearly 12% of all construction workers in the country, are currently looking for work.
Unemployment in the field may decline in the near future as the pace of job growth for construction is expected to be much higher than the average pace across all professions over the next decade.
9. Crossing guards
> Unemployment rate: 11.8%
> Labor force: 65,000
> Industry: Protective services
> Median annual wage: $24,750
The majority of crossing guards — more than two-thirds — are employed by local governments to manage difficult intersections. The next largest share work at elementary and secondary. On the whole, protective service occupations, which includes police officers and firefighters, have a low unemployment rate of just 4%. The occupation’s nearly 12% unemployment rate may be partially the result of schools not employing crossing guards year-round. The typical crossing guard earns less than $25,000 a year.
8. Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers
> Unemployment rate: 12.3%
> Labor force: 178,000
> Industry: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $37,380
Like several job classes in the construction sector, a large share of carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers are unemployed. Roughly a quarter of these individuals are self-employed, and many move from job to job. The potential uncertainty of obtaining a new contract may explain why more than 12% of these individuals are unemployed.
7. Tax preparers
> Unemployment rate: 12.7%
> Labor force: 125,000
> Industry: Business and financial operations
> Median annual wage: $35,990
Just as growing demand for health services in the United State makes health professions relatively secure for jobholders, the eternal presence of taxes means the demand for tax preparation assistance will likely remain consistent at the very least. Unlike many health-related occupations, however, tax preparer jobs are not especially secure. Nearly 13% of tax preparers are unemployed, one of the highest unemployment rates of any job in the nation. Accountants and auditors are not included in this occupation.
24/7 Wall St. 6. Graders and sorters, agricultural products
> Unemployment rate: 13.4%
> Labor force: 112,000
> Industry: Farming, fishing, and forestry
> Median annual wage: $19,910
Graders and sorters separate and categorize unprocessed food and other agricultural products by their quality, weight, and type. The BLS category of farming, fishing, and forestry occupations has the highest unemployment rate of any industry, and graders and sorters have the highest unemployment rate within the industry. Like many jobs with high unemployment, those working in these positions earn significantly less than the typical American worker. The median annual wage for graders and sorters of agricultural products is less than $20,000, compared to the median of all occupations of $35,540.
5. Packers and packagers
> Unemployment rate: 13.6%
> Labor force: 584,000
> Industry: Transportation and material moving
> Median annual wage: $20,330
Few jobs in the country have a higher share of unemployed workers than packers and packagers. Packers and packagers can have a range of responsibilities, including loading materials into packaging equipment, measuring and weighing materials, cleaning containers, and record keeping. Of the more than half a million workers in the field, nearly 14% are currently out of a job, a higher unemployment rate than in all but a handful of other occupations in the United States.
4. Roofers
> Unemployment rate: 14.8%
> Labor force: 259,000
> Industry: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $35,760
Unemployment rates among all construction and extraction workers are relatively high. Roughly 8.4% of all industry workers are out of a job, the third highest unemployment rate among all industries in the country. Roofers are even more likely to be out of work as the unemployment rate in this specialized field is nearly 15%. As is the case for many occupations with a high unemployment rate, there are no formal educational requirements for roofers as the the craft is typically learned on the job.
3. Telemarketers
> Unemployment rate: 22.1%
> Labor force: 77,000
> Industry: Sales
> Median annual wage: $22,740
As is true for a number of professions with high unemployment, the extremely high 22.1% unemployment rate for telemarketers may be largely due to a high turnover rate. The success rate of direct marketing calls is particularly low, at fewer than one in 10 by some estimates. Telemarketers work for relatively low pay and it is not uncommon for workers to be hung up on if not verbally abused. The changing industry may also help explain the high unemployment rate in the field. As telemarketing once replaced direct mail, email marketing is quickly replacing the need for direct calls.
2. Construction helpers
> Unemployment rate: 22.3%
> Labor force: 67,000
> Industry: Construction and extraction
> Median annual wage: $27,540
Poor job security and low wages frequently go hand in hand. With an unemployment rate of 22.3% and a median annual wage of just $27,540, construction helpers are one such example. According to data from the Commerce Department, building permits for one-family homes have risen steadily over the past five years. According to a recent report from Bloomberg, however, building permits fell in December and construction companies are turning cautious on fears of economic downturn.
24/7 Wall St. 1. Actors
> Unemployment rate: 26.1%
> Labor force: 66,000
> Industry: Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media
> Median annual wage: N/A
Nearly three-quarters of Americans 12 years of age and over consume movies and TV for home viewing on a regular basis, according to a recent study from consumer trend organization Nielsen. The BLS projects the number of acting jobs to grow by 10% through 2024, slightly faster than the national average pace. Despite the need of producing fresh median, the job is the least secure in the country. Yet, the job is the least secure in the country. A whopping 26.1% of actors are unemployed, the highest in the nation.
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