How not to get worked up

Stressed out? Consider a career in audiology, just one of the fields that was ranked as causing less stress in a recent survey.

Katie Manes undergoes a hearing test with Brenda Engelman, a nurse and audiologist, in Pittsburg. A report in the US found that audiologists, who assess and treat hearing disorders, have one of the leShow more

Stressed out by your job and looking for a change? Chances are you work in media, and maybe should consider something in health care.

A new report from the US on the most, and least, stressful professions showed that more than half of the 10 least-stressful jobs are in the health care, led by audiologists, who assess and treat hearing disorders.

"Professions that involve low stress have very little danger and minimal physical demands," says Tony Lee, the publisher of careercast.com, a California jobs website that compiled the report.

But there are few positions out there that will not provide at least a few worry lines and the occasional sleepless night.

In another recent survey, 70 per cent of all employees say work is the main cause of their stress, and 49 per cent attribute that stress to worries about job stability, according to the American Psychological Association. Many employees also say they're unhappy with how little their companies are doing to help them find a work-life balance.

Mr Lee's conclusion may not be that surprising. "Job seekers who want a laid-back career and a high quality of life should look for professions that involve shorter work weeks, low pressure and little competition," he says.

Other jobs in the field that fill the bill for low pressure and competition, with shorter work weeks, include dietitian, dental hygienist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist and chiropractor.

Jobs in media, led by public relations executives, dominated the most stressful professions, according to the report, although commercial airline pilot topped the list.

"Jobs in communication can be high pressure," says Mr Lee, "especially for public relations executives handling crisis situations, newscasters who go on-air with little or no time for preparation and photojournalists working in dangerous environments."

Other high-stress positions included senior corporate executive, advertising account executive, architect and stockbroker.

Software engineer, computer programmer and mathematician were all rated low-stress.

Among so-called blue-collar jobs, firefighter, police officer and taxi driver topped the high-stress list, while jobs such as bookbinders, photo process workers, musical instrument repairers and car assemblers are considered low-stress.

Researchers compiled the ranking by analysing 200 different jobs on their environment, competitiveness and risk. They assigned a numerical value to factors that invoked stress, and whether or not that factor was central to the job being evaluated.

They also used data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics and Trade Associations.

* with Reuters