Top jobs are for those with a knack for numbers

As the world becomes more quantitative and data-focused, mathematics takes center stage, with Statistician topping the best jobs of 2017, according to the new CareerCast Jobs Rated report. In total, four of the top 10 best jobs of 2017 are built on math, including Mathematician, Data Scientist and Operations Research Analyst.

“The demand for workers with math skills spans a variety of professions and industries, including marketing, banking, government, sports, retail and health care,” says Kyle Kensing, Online Content Editor, CareerCast. “Those with math and analytic skills are highly prized for their ability to develop solutions that uncover hidden solutions to business challenges.”

Health care jobs also feature predominately among the best jobs of 2017 with three landing in the Top 10: Medical Services Manager, Occupational Therapist and Speech Pathologist.

The No. 6-ranked best job of 2017 is controversial: University Professor (tenured). While many tenured professors have rewarding and fulfilling careers, others who want to teach at the university level find it difficult to find full-time employment.

Certain faculty positions are in high demand, such as instructors in medicine and science, but many universities have cut back on the number of full-time professors they employ, hiring adjuncts instead.

Newspaper Reporter and Broadcaster, the two lowest-ranking jobs of 2017, have remained in the bottom 10 for the past several years.

These professions have taken on heightened importance and increased scrutiny. Journalists covering politics in particular, have been under extreme pressure as they strive to credibly cover the news and keep our nation informed.

“Both of these industries have felt the years-long squeeze of diminishing job prospects, due to declining advertising revenue that has impacted the newspaper, radio and television industries,” says Kensing.

Other examples of this year’s worst jobs are professions that make the world a safer place.

Firefighters and Enlisted Military Personnel face high stress and dangerous work conditions, without particularly high pay to compensate them.

Other jobs at the bottom of the Jobs Rated report are facing hard times, such as Taxi Drivers, who are competing with ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft, and Retail Salespeople, who have seen many major chains closing.