All jobs come with a level of stress, but some professions come with higher stress levels. Here are the 10 Most Stressful Jobs of 2023! This could be because of tight deadlines, dangerous work environments or constant demands that lead to heaps of anxiety.

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10 Most Stressful Jobs of 2023

Bartender

Many people think that this job just involves drinking and hanging out in a bar. How hard could it be? The truth is, this work can be very stressful. Bartenders work in highly visible and taxing environments.

They need to satisfy their manager’s expectations and customers’ demands. With the added pressure of drunk customers, spending hours on your feet and travelling home late at night – this job leave bartenders feeling hard pressed.

Telephone operator 

This job is regarded as one of the most stressful in out modern age. Research from the Cornell University found that 87% of call center operators report high or very high-stress levels at work. Operators typically assist customers with numerous tasks like billing issues, refunds or general information.

But operators in emergency call centers can find themselves being the first responders to emergencies, and working to extract important information during a stressful situation.

Teacher

The teaching industry has been one of the most disrupted spaces in the last few years. While teaching is a fulfilling job with ‘longer holidays’ it is an exceptionally stressful position.

Teachers often need to manage a variety of different student behaviours. Including disruptive students. They also have to accept low salaries and take on extra work due to staffing shortages.

Research from the RAND Corporation found that teachers and principals reported job-related stress at twice the rate of the general working population. Lead author of the report, Elizabeth D. Steiner shares:”Educators continue to report relatively worse well-being than other working adults’.

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Sports referee

How difficult standing on the side, yelling penalties and deciding the winners? Well, being the proverbial bad guy in every match has shown to take its toll on referees.

You get yelled insults from spectators, players and management on how to do your job, or that you’ve been tipped off. TV rooms stand ready to press replay to reveal the error you’ve made – in high definition.

Constant verbal abuse in this line of work, causes referees a lot of stress and anxiety. And let’s not forget the long distance travelling or need to keep in peak physical shape. In reality, part of the problem is the stigma that referees are people without emotions.

Chef

While chefs make a pretty penny at the end of each month, it is a pretty demanding job too! Chefs needs to cook each order to absolute perfection, with impeccable plating, all within a strict time limit – or else face the wrath or a dissatisfied customer and their social media rants!

And while being a chef is a great creative outlet in a growing industry. It also entails long working hours, managing a restaurant’s food budget and controlling kitchen costs. It also means looking after the needs of the kitchen staff.

Add in the head of ovens and stoves – it becomes a very stressful workspace.

Social Worker

Social workers have one of the most stressful jobs. And they are the most at risk for chronic stress and burnout among healthcare professionals.

They are responsible for helping other people through crises – without the option of just ‘walking away’ and leaving work stress at work.

They witness the many heartbreaking sides of life, and try to help people navigate those scary situations. And with particularly high, demanding workloads this one of the most stressful (and important) jobs.

Broadcaster / Reporter

While reporters or broadcasters to do not often find themselves in many physically dangerous situations, they do face very strict (constant) deadlines. The dwindling job market does not take away from the high stress levels of this job. Journalism professor, Matthew Pearson from the Carleton University, says:

“By recognizing media workers’ elevated risks of trauma, acknowledging their personal sacrifices and honouring their commitment, we can together create a healthier, more sustainable news industry – one that better supports its people in pursuit of journalism’s greater mission of serving the public good…”

Journalists often have to report on graphic or disturbing stories which can affect their mental health, and lead to burnout as a result from trauma coverage. Some even consider suicide because of their coverage. Not to mention the harassment they receive online.

Paramedic

If you want to be a local hero or have a positive impact on people’s lives, then the route of a paramedic may be for you! This is also an expanding industry with new skills and emergency procedures flooding the scene.

As rewarding as this role is, it is an extremely stressful – and emotional – job. There is constant uncertainty about what you will face when you respond to an emergency. And once on the scene, paramedics often see some of the most gruesome scenes.

They are responsible for being the ‘someone’ who has to take injured people to hospital. They often work long, extra shifts with unpredictable patterns.

Firefighter

The dream job of children everywhere. This job is also well-respected in any community. But it comes with its fair share of stress and unspoken fears. Firefighters often find themselves in situations where the something can happen they have no control over. A fine line between success and failure.

These men and women are running into burning buildings and blazing forests. And are also pulling mangled bodies from car wrecks.

They risk their lives to save those of others, while bearing the responsibility that failure is not an option.

Healthcare worker

Being a healthcare workers has always been challenging – even before the Covid-19 pandemic. This work often involves intensely emotional situations, people in pain and death.

These workers dedicate a lot of their time (and lives) to ensure that people walk away healthy and cared for. As in the case of the pandemic, many healthcare staff risked their lives to care for the surge of patients, amid staff and resource shortages.

Let’s not forget that they are often forced to work overtime and risk their own physical (and mental) wellbeing for others.

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