Editor’s note: This article was first published in April 2018; it is a 2018 ranking based on US News and CareerCast data, and its growth projections and outlook for taxi drivers versus Uber and Cabify reflect that period.
As we do every year, we are analysing the 10 best professions to work in and, by extension, the worst jobs. This year we are using data from US News, which evaluates income, prospects, environmental factors, stress and the physical demands of each job across a wide range of industries, salary ranges and skill levels. And we are going to compare and contrast that data with CareerCast’s to get a broader view of the professions with the most future.
As we can see, just like every year, professions related to mathematics and data analysis appear among the jobs of the future, although in 2018 healthcare and medicine take the top spots.
Actuary, statistician and scientist are still among the best jobs right now.
(Read: Want to earn more than average? Social and maths skills will help)
What are the best jobs and professions in 2018?
1. Software developer
Considered the best profession right now, these professionals research, design and develop software systems, along with hardware development. They are playing an important role in medicine, and they will play an important role in the technological progress behind the payments of the future. This profession undoubtedly still has many years ahead of it, and now more than ever, not just for making video games. Although that too.
2. Dentist
As the song goes: “find yourself a prince or a dentist”. With growing awareness of the importance of looking after our mouths, and the huge range of treatments for our mouths and teeth, the only danger this profession could face is oversupply, since there are more and more dental clinics.
3. Statistician
Statistical analysis is an increasingly important profession for a wide range of industries, so these professionals are in high demand and will remain so for a long time.
4. Orthodontist
Orthodontists are the ones responsible for the incredible, beautiful smiles of actors and models. They handle a great deal of work in our mouths, and perhaps the job they do best is putting our teeth in their proper place.
5. Information security analyst
We expose more and more personal data on the internet and online services. Companies also handle a lot of data and information that should be as secure as possible. That is why the information security analyst profession is expected to grow by 18% in the next year, according to CareerCast data.
6. Audiologist
This professional diagnoses and treats hearing problems, trying to discover their extent, the nature of the problem and the degree of hearing function.
7. Actuary
An actuary is a professional in the economic sciences who specialises in developing products and evaluating operations and entities exposed to risks related to personal insurance, general insurance, social security, and capital and commodity markets, on the basis of establishing conditions of actuarial balance within economic and financial planning processes.
Put more simply, this professional interprets statistics to determine the probability of a person having an accident, falling ill or dying, which makes them a key figure, above all in insurance companies. The projected growth for this profession is 20% over the coming years.
8. Occupational therapist
We already included this profession among the jobs with the most future. This professional develops individualised programmes of mental, physical and emotional activity for people with disabilities or impairments, to help them become self-sufficient. The reason this profession will have such a future is rising life expectancy, which will lead to an ageing population.
Why it is among the best jobs is not just the salary (it is well paid) but the fact of doing meaningful work.
9. Market research analyst
These analysts study our habits as consumers and advise companies on the best way to present a campaign or package a product to reach the consumer more effectively. This profession is expected to grow by 27% until 2022.
See also: Which jobs will have the most opportunities in 2020
10. Veterinarian
I remember that 25 years ago it seemed crazy to think that vets (animal doctors) could become as successful as they have as professionals, but that success is set to grow as the requirements for pet care increase, along with our own interest in our pets.
And these would be the 10 best jobs, analysing the variables of income, work and satisfaction within these professions. Now let’s move on to the worst jobs, using the same variables plus the risk of the profession disappearing altogether.
These are the 10 worst jobs and professions in 2018
1. Journalists
Studying journalism today is a risky decision, since even the media themselves are at risk. Poorly paid and with few chances of finding a job. And once you find one, there is little chance that a journalist’s salary will be adequate or what you expected.
2. Logger
This profession appears once again in this ranking of the worst jobs, beaten only by journalist. Logging has become somewhat outdated because of new technologies, to the point that the profession is tending to disappear.
3. Taxi driver
Uber, Cabify and the rest still to come will make life increasingly difficult for this profession, which seems to be an enemy of change and of adapting to this new era. Taxi drivers are not among the worst-paid professionals, but they are among the most demanding professions, with the added problem of being highly threatened by giants seeking to take control of the industry.
4. Military personnel
Although it does not top the ranking of most stressful professions in every country, the truth is that in some countries the stress these professionals suffer ends up leading to various disorders. In any case, it is one of the worst-paid professions.
5. Radio presenter
The radio industry is changing too. Working conditions keep getting worse. In addition, competition, the internet and audiovisual channels are eating into these professionals’ income.
6. Flight attendant
Low pay, stress and problems balancing work and family life. Add to that airline cutbacks to reduce costs. It is not one of the most attractive jobs today, and it doesn’t look as though it will improve.
7. Prison officer
Although the biggest advantage of this profession is being a civil servant, it is currently considered one of the most stressful jobs there is. On top of that there is the real danger these officers face. That said, we could say this job is not well paid if we take those factors into account.
8. Actor
A badly hit industry where, as a rule, there is no middle ground in income and fame. Out of 3,000 drama students, probably 1 becomes a superstar, 30 earn a steady income from their career, 100 scrape by as best they can within the profession, and the rest simply work in other kinds of jobs.
9. Oil rig workers
Although it is not badly paid, the physical effort and harsh conditions mean this job is not worth it, as it can keep a person isolated from their family for months. There are also certain risks and dangers in this profession, which, with the help of new technologies, is also hiring fewer and fewer people.
10. Farmer
And finally we have the farmer, who works harder and harder and earns less and less. This problem is leading many regions to support farmers with subsidies, because nobody wants the countryside to die out (none of us do), but most of the profits this professional generates end up in the hands of middlemen.
Featured image: Ross Phillips Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
