World's Best Job Announced

Tom Hodgkinson reveals the results of our reader survey on the best and worst occupations

Many thanks to everyone who responded to our jobs survey a while back. There were over 1,000 of you. We’ve been working with Prof Brendan Burchell of the Cambridge sociology department on an analysis of your responses, and we’ve published the results in the new edition of the Idler, which is winging its way towards subscribers right now (subscribers: you can access the digital version on your device now by clicking on this link).

In the survey, we asked you what path through life you would recommend to a young person, and gave a list of 27 occupations. They were rated on a scale: would you “strongly encourage” or “strongly discourage” a young person considering that career?

The most desirable occupation was scientist, and that was closely followed by artist and musician. And the least recommended career? Banker.

“This was an unexpected finding, but it is consistent with the research on job quality,” said Professor Burchell. “We know a lot about what makes a good job and being a scientist ticks all the boxes, from being creative and well respected, to being reasonably well paid with opportunities for secure employment and good prospects.”

Scientists, or so at least the perception goes, are paid to examine the world and expand our knowledge of it. Aristotle was a scientist.

And bankers? Well, they’re just not very popular. I suppose it’s because, like the medieval church, we condemn them for apparently making money out of other people’s misery, i.e. by charging interest on loans. Of course that is perhaps not really fair to the bankers – I like them, they don’t cancel their subscriptions to the Idler, ha ha – but nonetheless, the prejudice persists.

Below is the graph of the results for your edification (full story is in the magazine). I note that my own occupation – journalist – is not very highly rated. Why not? I love it!

Do send me your comments on the Idler work survey. We love to hear from you.

PS: If you haven’t yet subscribed, what are you waiting for? You can join us from only £2.50 per month. Click here to see subscription options.

SELECTED COMMENTS

These comments were mailed to us after an earlier version of this piece was sent out as a newsletter. We like to publish a selection and reserve the right to edit them for clarity. Feel free to drop us a line with your thoughts.

Sir: Your readers are quite right to discourage young people from becoming bankers. Why would anyone want to be paid highly, stimulated intellectually, surrounded by clever, ambitious people, travel in style, and get laid a lot?
Euan Rellie,
Managing Partner, BDA Partners,
New York

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