Study Reveals Top Loneliest Jobs In America
A report from Solitaired, an online gaming platform, ranked the roles that are most likely to leave you craving social interaction; they were literally determining the lonliest jobs in America. In this study, they analyzed over 750,000 job posts representing more than 1,200 titles in 30 industries on Indeed. They searched each job post for indicators that the work could be “lonely.” For instance, if it requires independence, self-reliance, and a general ability to work alone.
Top Loneliest Jobs in the U.S.
According to their data, the loneliest job is a Task Associate. This is a job that typically requires restocking shelves at stores. The study mentions that this role can be customer-facing. However, the interactions are usually brief. Rounding out the rest of the top loneliest jobs list are Senior Paralegal, Manual Machinist, Field Sales Representative, and Corporate Paralegal.
Out of the top 20 loneliest jobs, five are senior-level positions, which may mean some career fields get lonelier the higher you climb the ladder.
Loneliest Job Industries
In addition to the loneliest job roles, they set out to find which industries are most likely to face less productivity and even increased spending on physical and mental health care. In first place is the government and public administration industry. They said workers typically spend their days planning and performing tasks concerning national security, revenue and taxation, regulations, and more.
The second loneliest industry is law, public safety, and corrections. In this industry, job tasks include providing legal, public safety, and protective services. In third place is the environmental industry. The platform notes that while this does not mean all jobs in these industries will leave you feeling isolated, these are simply the industries that have the most job postings that could result in feelings of loneliness.
On the other hand, they emphasize that people working military jobs are the least likely to experience loneliness. Other industries that offer more companionship include hospitality and tourism, food and beverage, and automotive.
Regardless of an industry’s loneliness ranking, they found other jobs that can leave people feeling isolated. In the advertising and marketing industry, photographers are typically the loneliest. “For some people, this solo style of work is where they thrive, but for others, it leaves them seeking more in-person interactions,” they wrote.
While the gaming industry spends a lot of time working with others, store managers are the most likely to feel isolated on the job.
A way to combat loneliness at work is to use small opportunities to catch up with colleagues, whether in person or virtually.
Check out the full breakdown of the loneliest jobs in the U.S. here.
