Do you ever feel lonely at work? If you work in government, law, public safety, corrections, or environmental sectors, you might not be alone in feeling, well, alone. According to a recent Solitaired study, fields like these top the list of the loneliest professions in America.
Sure, remote work has become synonymous with feelings of isolation in the digital age. But who knew that even behind the bustling scenes of a courtroom or office, loneliness could be an occupational hazard?
In this article, we explore the surprising industries where loneliness comes with the territory, far beyond the confines of your home office. Brace yourself because loneliness at work is way more widespread than you might think.
Loneliest jobs in America
Many songs have been written about loneliness, so perhaps task associates in America should be the muse as they secure the top spot when it comes to loneliness at work. Their job is to stock store merchandise, often working shifts when customer traffic is low or non-existent.
On a similar note, manual machinists—a role that often requires solitary focus—and field sales representatives, who may find themselves working far away from the office hustle, are no strangers to isolation.
More surprisingly, paralegals, attorneys, and analysts, known for their buzzing office environments, also report high levels of loneliness. And among the 20 loneliest jobs, five are senior-level positions, indicating that sometimes, the journey up the career ladder might get lonelier the higher you climb.
It’s not all gloom and doom, though. Roles such as IT systems engineer, full-charge bookkeeper, and research assistant report the least loneliness, proving that plenty of professions offer more vibrant social experiences.
Loneliest industries in America
Loneliness at work isn’t restricted to certain job roles—entire industries are feeling the hit, too. But the sectors that report the highest levels of loneliness might surprise you.
It’s hard to imagine feeling alone in the famously bustling environments of government offices or law firms, but it happens. Along with the public safety and corrections, environmental, and journalism industries, these sectors score highest for worker loneliness.
In addition to crunching numbers, financial professionals are grappling with loneliness, too. Three money-related industries—finance, accounting, and banking—make the top 15 list for the most isolated industries.
On the flip side, if you’re working in the military, you’re less likely to experience the pangs of solitude. The hospitality/tourism, food/beverage, and automotive industries also observe less loneliness, reminding us that the spirit of camaraderie is still out there in some workplaces.
Loneliest jobs by industry
Some jobs require more independence than others, but no industry is totally free from loneliness, no matter how social it seems.
In the fast-paced world of advertising and marketing, the loneliest people are usually the ones capturing it all through the lens. Photographers in this industry often work independently, a setting in which some flourish and others feel too isolated.
In education, a field generally associated with constant contact and collaboration, recruiters are typically the loneliest despite their seemingly social role of talent hunting. Meanwhile, in the gaming industry, it’s mostly store managers feeling isolated, showing another link between senior roles and workplace solitude.
Even in the military, an industry built on camaraderie and teamwork—and the least lonely on our list—pockets of loneliness do exist, especially in roles like management analysts, operations associates, and intelligence analysts. It just goes to show that workplace loneliness can pop up anywhere, even when you’re surrounded by people.
Final Thoughts
When it comes down to it, workplace loneliness might hinge less on the industry or position you’re in and more on you. If you’re someone who likes working independently, these “lonely” jobs might just be the perfect fit for you. If you’re a social butterfly, you’ll probably thrive in a more collaborative environment.
And if you love your lonely job otherwise or can’t leave it, try to find ways to combat loneliness outside of work. Your 9 to 5 doesn’t have to follow you home—there’s plenty of warmth and community waiting for you outside of office hours, too.
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