WASHINGTON — Most people consider their jobs stressful. A CareerCast survey says 62 percent of respondents rated their jobs as “highly stressful,” but the causes of on-the-job stress are many.
The job search portal’s survey found that the top source of stress at work is simply “unpredictability,” or not knowing what the workday will bring.
Unpredictability includes day-to-day change in work flow because of boss or client demands, when and how assignments arise and unexpected changes in expectations.
“Life is filled with stressors — from worrying you’re going to lose your job because the company lost a big account to having sick child at home,” says CareerCast’s Kyle Kensing.
Also ranking high on the stress list are “workplace environment” and “deadlines.”
Surprisingly, few people ranked the length of their workdays or workweeks as a major source of stress. Business travel also ranked very low.
Stress factors also vary by occupation.
As for “unpredictability,” those in academia, engineering and customer service were most likely to say that tops the stress list.
For transportation and health care workers, “ensuring the safety of others” ranked No. 1.
“Deadlines” topped the list for professional and business services workers and those in the entertainment field.
CareerCast says 834 people who visited its site took the unscientific poll online in January.
Enlisted military personnel, firefighter and airline pilot ranked as the most stressful jobs in 2016.
Looking for a largely stress free career? CareerCast’s 2016 Job Stress Report ranks hair stylist, medical records technician, jeweler and librarian as low-stress occupations.
