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The Best and Worst Jobs for 2011

Are you thinking about applying to San Antonio construction jobs (Click here)? How about working as a painter? Maybe a taxi driver?

If so, you may want to think again, because these jobs and many more were recently ranked among the worst occupations this year.

CareerCast.com recently released the Jobs Rated 2011 report, a survey that ranks 200 different jobs, from best to worst. The positions are ranked based on physical demands, work environment, income, outlook, and stress.

The 10 worst jobs include:

1. Roustabout
2. Ironworker
3. Lumberjack
4. Roofer
5. Taxi driver
6. Emergency medical technician
7. Welder
8. Painter
9. Meter reader
10. Construction worker

This list alone shouldn't discourage you from applying to these jobs. In fact, many of the positions listed pay high salaries, and some are even expected to grow in the coming years. However, just be aware that most of these jobs are demanding and stressful.

At the other end of the spectrum are the 10 best jobs, which include:

1. Software engineer
2. Mathematician
3. Actuary
4. Statistician
5. Computer systems analyst
6. Meteorologist
7. Biologist
8. Historian
9. Audiologist
10. Dental hygienist

There are a number of popular jobs that didn't make it on the best or worst lists. For instance, healthcare is an extremely popular industry right now, but the only tradition positions to be listed were nurses and surgeons. Other popular occupations, such as radiology jobs (Click here), were nowhere to be found.

Food jobs, which also are popular among many people, were ranked pretty low. Waiters and waitresses came in at 139th, while bartenders were ranked 140th.

The outlook isn't much better for sales jobs (http://jobs.cityfurniture.com/sales+Jobs), with wholesale sales representatives ranked 153rd, retail salespersons coming in at 159th, and advertising salespersons ranked 170th. Click here to see some Texas sales jobs that are currently available.

Austin Construction Jobs Drop 5.6 Percent

As the city's monthly and yearly job figures increased during April, the employment situation continued to worsen for those seeking Austin construction jobs, as the city's construction industry saw the second-largest decline in employment.

While the Austin area's unemployment rate for April has yet to be released, the rate in Texas increased from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent, which is lower than the national average of 9.9 percent. Austin had an unemployment rate of 7.1 percent during March.

The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area had a total non-farm employment of 763,200 workers during April, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 760,400 workers during March and a .1 percent increase from last year.

Seven industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment during April, including: leisure and hospitality by 1,500 jobs; education and health services by 700 jobs; professional and business services by 500 jobs; other services by 300 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities by 100 jobs; financial activities by 100 jobs; and government by 100 jobs.

The leisure and hospitality industry added the most jobs over the year, increasing by 6.1 percent between April 2009 and April 2010 to 88,200 workers. The education and health services industry grew by 2.9 percent to 85,900 workers.

The other services industry saw its workforce rise by 2.4 percent to 33,800 jobs, while the government industry increased by 1.4 percent during the 12-month period.

Employment in the financial activities industry remained even over the year with 43,800 jobs.

The manufacturing industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 46,500 workers during April, down from 46,700 workers during March and a 6.3 percent decrease from last year.

That was closely followed by the mining, logging and construction industry. That industry employed 38,500 workers during April, down from 38,700 workers during March and a 5.6 percent decrease from April 2009.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include: trade, transportation and utilities by .8 percent; information by 4 percent; and professional and business services by 2.4 percent.

Oregon Construction Jobs Decline 18.4 Percent Over Year

As the state continued to see a decline in employment during February, Oregon construction jobs were hit the hardest over the year.

During February, Oregon's unemployment rate decreased from 10.7 percent to 10.5 percent, following an increase from 10.6 percent during January. Despite the latest decrease, the state's rate is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent.

Oregon had a total non-farm employment of 1,590,500 workers during February, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 1,591,700 workers during January and a 3.2 percent decrease from last year.

Six industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment during February, including: mining and logging by 300 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities by 800 jobs; information by 400 jobs; education and health services by 400 jobs; leisure and hospitality by 900 jobs; and other services by 1,000 jobs.

However, only one industry saw a yearly increase in employment. The education and health services industry employed 225,400 workers during February, up from 225,000 workers during January and a 1.5 percent increase from February 2009.

The construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 64,500 workers during February, down from 66,300 workers during January and an 18.4 percent decrease from last year.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• mining and logging by 4 percent
• manufacturing by 7.7 percent
• trade, transportation and utilities by 2.5 percent
• information by 2.4 percent
• financial activities by 3.3 percent
• professional and business services by 5.9 percent
• leisure and hospitality by 1.5 percent
• other services by 2 percent
• government by .6 percent

St Louis Construction Jobs Created by New Home Buyer Incentive Program

A new state program will help to create St Louis construction jobs and provide incentives for home buyers.

Gov. Jay Nixon recently launched the Home Ownership Purchase Enhancement Program, a $15 million initiative designed to jump-start Missouri's housing-construction industry.

"Putting Missouri highly skilled tradesmen and women back to work is a vital step toward jump-starting our economy," Nixon said. "Missouri is home to highly skilled, highly professional workers from all types of trades, but too many of these men and women are currently out of work. By sparking growth in our housing industry, we'll get these men and women back on the job and help more Missouri families realize the American dream."

Through the program, the Missouri Housing Development Commission will provide incentives of up to $1,750 to encourage residents to purchase homes. The incentive will equal the cost of the home buyer's first-year property taxes, up to $1,250.

Residents also will be eligible for an enhanced incentive if they purchase an energy-efficient home, purchase and remodel an existing home, or purchase an item to make a home more energy efficient, such as an Energy Star appliance.

Under the program, a home buyer with an estimated property tax of $1,250 would receive an energy efficiency enhancement of $500. A home buyer with an estimated property tax of less than $1,250 would be eligible for a larger energy-efficiency incentive, up to a total of $1,750.

"This property tax relief program gets MHDC off the sidelines by committing to put hardworking Missourians to work right now," Clint Zweifel, state treasurer and chair of MHDC, said. "We are making sure MHDC makes strategic long-term investments that move the economy forward and create and retain Missouri jobs."