Actuary best job, roustabout worst in 2010

Jan 6, 2010 9:21 AM | By Reuters

Being an actuary calculating statistics to determine probability and risk is the best job to have in 2010, while working on an oil rig as a roustabout is the worst position, according to a study.

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The following is a list of the 20 best jobs as well as the 20 worst jobs, with No. 1 on the second list being the worst, according to CareerCast.com, a job search site that analyzed 200 jobs in North America.

Best Jobs in 2010:

1. Actuary

2. Software engineer

3. Computer systems analyst

4. Biologist

5. Historian

6. Mathematician

7. Paralegal assistant

8. Statistician

9. Accountant

10. Dental hygienist

11. Philosopher

12. Meteorologist

13. Technical writer

14. Bank officer

15. Web developer

16. Industrial engineer

17. Financial planner

18. Aerospace engineer

19. Pharmacist

20. Medical records technician

Worst Jobs in 2010:

1. Roustabout

2. Lumberjack

3. Ironworker

4. Dairy farmer

5 Welder

6. Garbage collector

7. Taxi driver

8. Construction worker/laborer

9. Meter reader

10. Mail carrier

11. Butcher

12. Photojournalist

13. Firefighter

14. Sheet metal worker

15. Emergency medical technician

16. Stevedore

17. Reporter (newspaper)

18. Sailor

19. Machinist

20. Choreographer

Comments

Jan 6 2010 09:48:39 AM
LinWii

OK so can we get the list in SA? ... the times??

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Jan 6 2010 10:41:32 AM
Taliesan

Jan 6 2010 09:48:39 AM
LinWii

Reporter is 17th on the worst list - they are too demoralised.

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Jan 6 2010 04:46:22 PM
Ozgood

For mathematical sciences:

OK, but once you are over 45, no matter how well qualified you are you, you have past your sell by date UNLESS

(1) you are a recognised author
(2) have published many papers dealing with the most obscure branches of mathematics or or statistics or quantitative management etc
(3) you have connections in high places
(4) you are fortunate enougfh to have started your own business
(5) you have made a killing on the exchange
(6) you married the right person

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Jan 6 2010 04:52:37 PM
Ozgood

I kid you not and write from personal experience

To succeed in mathematical sciences you need a Ph D (unless you are like the google founders who dropped their Ph Ds to concentrate on developing their google databases - they are billionaires today)

Alternatively learn to trade and write/develop exotic derivatives and then you can screw up the global financial system and then earn huge bonuses for so doing

Look at our own Dr Emmanuel Derman - a UCT graduate who is now some professor of financial mathematics in Columbia University