Special Report

Careers With the Worst Job Security

kadmy / iStock via Getty Images

In an era of historic inflation and growing concerns over a potential recession, the job market remains a bright spot in the U.S. economy. The national jobless rate stands at 3.6%, its lowest point since the beginning of the pandemic and closely in line with pre-pandemic lows. Despite a tight labor market overall, certain occupations do not provide as much job security as others.

Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed unemployment rates by occupation to identify the jobs with the worst job security. To be counted among a certain occupation, an unemployed individual needed to have held that specific job immediately prior to being unemployed. Among the jobs on this list, unemployment rates range from 9% to 33%. 

Many jobs on this list are in the travel, hospitality, and entertainment industries that were hit hard by closures early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. These jobs include flight attendants, hosts and hostesses, maids, and bartenders. Travel restrictions and business closures during the pandemic led to the loss of nearly 4 million hospitality jobs in 2020, according to American Hotel and Lodging Association, an industry advocacy group. Here is a look at the industries laying off the most Americans

Other potential explanations for the high unemployment levels among the jobs on this list include decreasing demand for workers due to increasing automation. Some high-unemployment occupations, such as cashiers and legal secretaries and administrative assistants will be in far lower demand as technological advances continue to reduce the need for personnel.

It is important to note that in many of these occupations, high unemployment is partially attributable to workers willingly walking away. In a trend now known as the Great Resignation, Americans are quitting at near-record rates, often citing low pay and little room for advancement as reasons. Indeed, many of the jobs on this list are entry-level positions that are typically low paying, including wait staff and dishwashers. Here is a look at the states where the most people are quitting their jobs.

Click here to see the jobs with the worst job security
Click here to read our detailed methodology

milanvirijevic / Getty Images

38. Construction trades helpers
> Unemployment rate: 9.0%
> Labor force: 78,000
> Median annual wage: $34,000
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +2.6%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: N/A

[in-text-ad]

photovs / iStock via Getty Images

37. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
> Unemployment rate: 9.1%
> Labor force: 96,000
> Median annual wage: $39,100
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +11.9%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

izusek / Getty Images

36. Flight attendants
> Unemployment rate: 9.1%
> Labor force: 115,000
> Median annual wage: $59,050
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +30.3%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

Drazen_ / E+ via Getty Images

35. Cashiers
> Unemployment rate: 9.1%
> Labor force: 2,862,000
> Median annual wage: $25,020
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: -10.0%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

[in-text-ad-2]

Jens_Lambert_Photography / Getty Images

34. Roofers
> Unemployment rate: 9.2%
> Labor force: 243,000
> Median annual wage: $43,580
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +4.6%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

SDI Productions / E+ via Getty Images

33. Childcare workers
> Unemployment rate: 9.2%
> Labor force: 1,072,000
> Median annual wage: $25,460
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +8.5%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

[in-text-ad]

32. Tree trimmers and pruners
> Unemployment rate: 9.2%
> Labor force: 108,000
> Median annual wage: $41,340
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +6.2%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

SolStock / E+ via Getty Images

31. Meeting, convention, and event planners
> Unemployment rate: 9.3%
> Labor force: 128,000
> Median annual wage: $51,560
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +17.6%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: Bachelor’s degree

Chris Hondros / Getty Images

30. Stockers and order fillers
> Unemployment rate: 9.5%
> Labor force: 1,826,000
> Median annual wage: $29,190
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +4.3%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

[in-text-ad-2]

Olivier Le Moal / Getty Images

29. Bill and account collectors
> Unemployment rate: 9.5%
> Labor force: 107,000
> Median annual wage: $38,100
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: -9.2%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

Pekic / iStock via Getty Images

28. Tax preparers
> Unemployment rate: 9.6%
> Labor force: 112,000
> Median annual wage: $44,300
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +1.6%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

[in-text-ad]

fstop123 / E+ via Getty Images

27. Interpreters and translators
> Unemployment rate: 9.7%
> Labor force: 103,000
> Median annual wage: $52,330
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +23.7%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: Bachelor’s degree

ilkercelik / Getty Images

26. Construction laborers
> Unemployment rate: 9.9%
> Labor force: 2,403,000
> Median annual wage: $37,890
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +8.0%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

AndreyPopov / Getty Images

25. Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
> Unemployment rate: 10.0%
> Labor force: 2,401,000
> Median annual wage: $31,120
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +9.1%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

[in-text-ad-2]

PeopleImages / Getty Images

24. Statisticians
> Unemployment rate: 10.0%
> Labor force: 50,000
> Median annual wage: $92,270
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +35.5%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: Master’s degree

FG Trade / E+ via Getty Images

23. Medical transcriptionists
> Unemployment rate: 10.2%
> Labor force: 50,000
> Median annual wage: $35,270
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: -7.4%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: Postsecondary nondegree award

[in-text-ad]

SDI Productions / E+ via Getty Images

22. Non-postal-service mail clerks and mail machine operators
> Unemployment rate: 10.5%
> Labor force: 59,000
> Median annual wage: $31,920
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: -4.3%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

kadmy / iStock via Getty Images

21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
> Unemployment rate: 10.5%
> Labor force: 133,000
> Median annual wage: $25,490
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +16.4%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

AndreyPopov / Getty Images

20. Parking attendants
> Unemployment rate: 10.6%
> Labor force: 79,000
> Median annual wage: $27,080
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +14.1%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

[in-text-ad-2]

Drazen_ / E+ via Getty Images

19. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
> Unemployment rate: 10.7%
> Labor force: 1,519,000
> Median annual wage: $26,220
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +11.3%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

nd3000 / iStock via Getty Images

18. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
> Unemployment rate: 10.9%
> Labor force: 55,000
> Median annual wage: $48,980
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: -21.0%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

[in-text-ad]

andresr / E+ via Getty Images

17. Waiters and waitresses
> Unemployment rate: 10.9%
> Labor force: 1,830,000
> Median annual wage: $23,740
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +20.1%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

sarymsakov / Getty Images

16. Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges
> Unemployment rate: 11.1%
> Labor force: 95,000
> Median annual wage: $30,110
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +22.0%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: N/A

kali9 / E+ / Getty Images

15. Recreation workers
> Unemployment rate: 11.8%
> Labor force: 158,000
> Median annual wage: $28,440
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +16.3%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

[in-text-ad-2]

Vasyl Dolmatov / Getty Images

14. Telephone, mail, and in-person interviewers
> Unemployment rate: 11.9%
> Labor force: 230,000
> Median annual wage: $36,170
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: -6.5%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

reklamlar / Getty Images

13. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
> Unemployment rate: 12.0%
> Labor force: 320,000
> Median annual wage: $23,880
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +25.2%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

[in-text-ad]

sturti / Getty Images

12. Hand packers and packagers
> Unemployment rate: 12.2%
> Labor force: 845,000
> Median annual wage: $28,050
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +0.2%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

Bhakpong / iStock

11. Graders and sorters of agricultural products
> Unemployment rate: 13.6%
> Labor force: 61,000
> Median annual wage: $28,220
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: -1.2%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

gilaxia / E+ via Getty Images

10. Production worker helpers
> Unemployment rate: 13.7%
> Labor force: 61,000
> Median annual wage: $30,500
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: -4.5%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

[in-text-ad-2]

Juanmonino / Getty Images

9. Dishwashers
> Unemployment rate: 13.8%
> Labor force: 282,000
> Median annual wage: $25,270
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +19.0%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

santypan / iStock via Getty Images

8. Bartenders
> Unemployment rate: 14.0%
> Labor force: 421,000
> Median annual wage: $24,960
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +32.5%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

[in-text-ad]

martin-dm / E+ / Getty Images

7. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
> Unemployment rate: 14.8%
> Labor force: 285,000
> Median annual wage: $25,010
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +26.6%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

LightFieldStudios / iStock via Getty Images

6. Musicians and singers
> Unemployment rate: 14.8%
> Labor force: 149,000
> Median annual wage: N/A
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +11.1%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

RyanKing999 / iStock via Getty Images

5. Taxi drivers
> Unemployment rate: 15.1%
> Labor force: 397,000
> Median annual wage: N/A
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: N/A
> Typical entry-level education requirement: N/A

[in-text-ad-2]

FatCamera / E+ via Getty Images

4. Crossing guards and flaggers
> Unemployment rate: 15.6%
> Labor force: 60,000
> Median annual wage: $30,790
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +13.5%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: No formal educational credential

DNY59 / Getty Images

3. Structural iron and steel workers
> Unemployment rate: 19.4%
> Labor force: 51,000
> Median annual wage: $54,830
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +6.1%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: High school diploma or equivalent

[in-text-ad]

Lawrence Glass / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

2. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
> Unemployment rate: 20.9%
> Labor force: 72,000
> Median annual wage: N/A
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: N/A
> Typical entry-level education requirement: .

EvgeniyShkolenko / iStock via Getty Images

1. Actors
> Unemployment rate: 33.0%
> Labor force: 67,000
> Median annual wage: N/A
> Projected employment change 2020-2030: +32.4%
> Typical entry-level education requirement: Some college, no degree

Methodology

To determine the jobs with the worst security, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed unpublished data on unemployment rate for over 500 detailed occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey. Detailed occupations were ranked based on the percentage of the labor force that was unemployed as of 2021. Unemployed members of an occupational labor force need to have been last employed in this occupation prior to unemployment. Only occupations whose labor forces were 50,000 or greater were considered. Broad occupation titles classified as “all other” were excluded from consideration.

Supplemental data on median annual wage came from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and are for 2020. Data on projected employment change from 2020 to 2030 and the typical education requirement for entry-level positions within the profession came from the BLS Employment Projections program. 

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.