There are many magazines that do rankings of the worst jobs in America. These rankings are based on salary, employee happiness, hours worked, and growth prospects. Everyone knows that professions like being a lumberjack are difficult. Today, I wanted to put a different spin on the worst jobs in the United States and detail why these jobs are the worst to have.
Here are the 3 worst jobs to have right now.
California Government Worker
Things are a mess in the state of California. The state of California is running out of money once again. This seems like a recurring theme because the state was on the verge of bankruptcy last year as well. State employees have been forced to take pay cuts and are being furloughed once again until the state passes a budget. Workers are being forced to take off at least 3 days each month and the state is trying to impose a minimum wage on employees.
Automotive Worker
The good news is that General Motors and Ford are proving that they can be viable competitors in the domestic market. The United States auto sector may be vibrant again but the jobs still have not come back. Many of the laid off employees have not been called back to work and companies are not looking to hire. They have discovered that they can survive with optimal productivity from the existing employees. It’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which a mass hiring boom will take place in the auto sector. The existing employees have seen their pensions cuts and benefits slashed.
Print Media Writer
There will always be a need for journalists but not in the traditional media world. The local beat reporter and magazine feature writer are being phased out. The newspaper industry has seen massive layoffs and they just keep coming. You know things are bad when a national newspaper like USA Today is laying off people. USA Today is laying off 130 workers. That’s a large amount for a staff of only 1,500. Every major newspaper is cutting back on staff because revenues keep dropping.
The basis of these jobs making the list is the way that current employees are suffering. They are being forced to take reductions in salaries and benefits. Despite doing all of these things, they still face uncertain futures. It’s tough to envision a scenario where things are going to improve in any of these jobs anytime soon.
Allot more people are using the internet as a source of information these days. Why buy a news paper when you can get all of the information you need from there website.
Also the fact you can get less “controled” news from other internet sources make people distrust national media all that more.
It wouldnt surprise me if sales continue to drop as the older generation passes by and the younger more internet savvy customers stop caring about print.
I agree. The 24 hour news cycle has totally changed the game for newspapers.
It looks like California is in serious trouble, despite the fact that so much private capital is in the state and so many rich people live there. Having a governmental job is not very secure in any field now. And I think some of printed newspapers will dissapear in two years’ time. Internet will consume them.
I don’t know why California has such a difficult time with its budget every year.
I can imagine California government jobs coming back it the ever have the backbone to curb their welfare handouts to undeserving people. As far as I’m concerned, if California continues to refuse to do anything about their welfare moms and illegal immigrants then they’ll be in financial trouble forever. There are only two ways to do this: bring more money in or spend less. Spending less is the easiest way, like I said, if they have the backbone to do the right thing.
I think it will take a combo approach. Spending cuts and increased revenues working in conjunction to lead the state out of its debt mess.
These broke state governments really need to have something – some process – akin to a private sector bankruptcy to force them to undertake a complete re-organization.
There’s very little will on the part of elected politicians to do anything that might lose them a vote, so it’s unlikely any real long term fix will ever come from anyone elected.
And so the cycles of stupidity repeat… different elected officials doing basically the same thing over & over again and expecting different results.
That’s why I am in favor of term limits for politicians.
My husband is an automotive worker at one of the big three. He has taken cuts in Vacation, and in other ways. We wish that people would pray for the Automotive Workers and for the State of Mich. and for our whole country as a whole. We are on a slippery slope, and sliding fast.
Don’t stick your head in the sand on important issues. Be prepared to vote in the next election, and beware of what is going on in the government with this present administration.
That’s very sad. That he has been forced to take such severe cuts. Hopefully, they will honor some of the commitments made to him.
We have planned for this over the past two decades. We both have been laid off and never found good jobs. I gave up and retired at 50. My wife looked for over 2 years recently and gave up and is now retired.
I really feel sorry for people who couldn’t financially prepare for the hard times. Some folks could have prepared when they had jobs and cash flow, but didn’t. Them I don’t feel so sorry for.
It sounds like you had a good financial plan Marc. Layoffs are always a negative because they catch so many people off guard and can ruin the best of plans.
zrxman60 says:
August 30, 2010 at 10:32 am
I can imagine California government jobs coming back it the ever have the backbone to curb their welfare handouts to undeserving people. As far as I’m concerned, if California continues to refuse to do anything about their welfare moms and illegal immigrants then they’ll be in financial trouble forever. There are only two ways to do this: bring more money in or spend less. Spending less is the easiest way, like I said, if they have the backbone to do the right thing.
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This is the problem with all states and the federal government. This is what is causing a big part of the shortfall. Anyone who has 2 arms, 2 legs, and an IQ of more than 50 could work at something. Those over 60 should get to retire and enjoy the fruits of their labor. They deserve that after working all their lives. Get the young ones up off their lazy butts and get to work instead of laying around playing video games.
Interesting opinion.
We have planned for this over the past two decades. We both have been laid off and never found good jobs. I gave up and retired at 50. My wife looked for over 2 years recently and gave up and is now retired.
I really feel sorry for people who couldn’t financially prepare for the hard times. Some folks could have prepared when they had jobs and cash flow, but didn’t. Them I don’t feel so sorry for.
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I have been advertising for people to work with me in my businesses, but don’t get any takers. Nobody wants to work on commission. They want a job where you punch in and it guarantees you a paycheck. People don’t want to have to PRODUCE to get paid. Well, I tell you, if you want to get any work in the future, you better be prepared to PRODUCE, or you will be sitting on the sidelines for a long time. People in Asia aren’t afraid to work and produce. That is why they have the jobs and we don’t.