HR Articles

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.

Texas Medical Jobs with NewCo

The creation of a new medical testing company will result in hundreds of Texas medical jobs.

NewCo, which will locate in Lewisville, Texas, will create more than 900 jobs with a yearly payroll of $67.2 million, and inject $10 million worth of investments into the local economy. The company is a collaboration among Baylor Health Care System, U.S. Oncology and Texas Oncology.

The company plans to hire 320 employees during the next year, and will have more than 900 workers by 2014, with an average salary of $67,000. NewCo has already posted positions ranging from medical technologists to mailroom clerks.

"We are excited about this new venture as it will directly benefit our patients," Baylor COO Gary Brock said. "NewCo will help us bring advanced technology to North Texas cost-effectively. Tests that we currently have to send out of state for processing will now be handled here locally, and that means faster results for our patients."

The City of Lewisville plans to give the company a 75 percent tax abatement of business property for the first five years and 25 percent for the following five years. The city also will rebate 1 percent of general sales taxes on equipment for the first four years.

Although NewCo conducted a nationwide search to determine the best location for its headquarters, according to The Dallas Morning News, it chose Lewisville because of the city's proximity to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, major transportation routes and the area's skilled workforce and universities.