The 10 Worst Jobs of 2011

According to Careercast.com, Roustabout is the worst job of 2011. 

Until I read this article, I had no idea what a roustabout was. A roustabout is an oil worker. These folks are the key maintenance providers on oil rigs and pipelines.

So why is it the worst job of 2011? These folks perform back-breaking labor for 12 or more hours a day, at all hours of the day or night, in conditions ranging from arctic winters to desert summers to ocean storms. Some of these folks who work in volatile locations of the world face the threat of attack from terrorists or hostile individuals. Roustabouts deal hands-on with dangerous drilling equipment and face the risk of serious injury or death on a daily basis. Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster last year, the federal government instituted a seven year suspension of off-shore drilling in the eastern Gulf and Atlantic coastline areas, job prospects for oil rig workers are diminishing.

Careercast surveyed 200 different jobs, and ranked those professions according to five criteria: 1) work environment, 2) physical demands, 3) outlook, 4) income, and 5) stress.

And, without further ado, the worst ten jobs of 2011 according to Careercast.com:

1. Roustabout. Roustabouts perform routine physical labor and maintenance on oil rigs and pipelines, both on and off shore.  
2. Ironworker. Ironworkers construct the steel framework of buildings, bridges, and other structures. 
3. Lumberjack. Lumberjacks fell, cut, and transport timber to be processed into lumber, paper, and other wood products. 
4. Roofer. Roofers install roofs on new buildings, perform repairs on old roofs, and re-roof old buildings. 
5. Taxi driver. Taxi drivers operate taxi cabs over the streets and roads of a municipality, picking up and dropping off passengers by request. 
6. Emergency Medical Technician. EMTs attend to situations which demand immediate medical attention, such as automobile accidents, heart attacks, and gunshot wounds. 
7. Welder. Welders join or repair metal surfaces through the application of heat. 
8. Painter. Painters prepare surfaces, and apply paints, varnishes, and finishes to the interiors and exteriors of houses and other structures. 
9. Meter reader. Meter readers monitor public utility meters and record volume of consumption by customers. 
10. Construction worker. Construction workers assist construction trade workers by performing a wide variety of tasks requiring physical labor. 

When I look at this list of the “worst” jobs, it seems like they all have at least one thing in common: workers in these jobs tend to work in worse conditions, and tend to be at greater risk of injury than many other occupations. That being said, I know many people who work in these occupations, and many of them love their jobs.

In Minnesota, if you’ve suffered a work-related injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and/or rehabilitation benefits.

For a free, no-obligation Minnesota workers’ compensation consultation, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.