Most Dangerous Job in America Also One of Missouri’s Most Popular
Do you consider your job dangerous? There's one occupation that was just rated as the most dangerous in America due to the abnormally high number of fatalities and it also happens to be one of the more popular vocations in Missouri.
By any measure, I have one of the least dangerous jobs in the world. Unless a radio tower happens to fall down on me or if a CD player goes rogue and cuts my hand off, I'm probably not gonna be harmed by my work. Most workers in Missouri can't say that. As a matter of fact, the number one most dangerous job in the country is also the one most often chosen by Missourians.
What is America's most dangerous job now?
24/7 Wall St just released this brand new ranking from the most recent full year of data in 2022. They say it is "transportation and material moving" (aka truck drivers).
Visual Capitalist shows that while Arkansas has the highest percentage of population that choose truck driving as a profession, Missouri isn't far behind. Nebraska, Wyoming and Iowa also have their fair share of truck drivers, too.
The data says that truck driving has a fatality rate of 14.6 fatalities for every 100,000 full-time workers. That doesn't sound high, but it is.
The second most dangerous job of "construction and extraction occupations" has almost 1/3rd less fatalities, believe it or not.
My father-in-law was an over-the-road truck driver for years. My wife says that her brother rode with him on a trip when he thought he might like to do it. When he returned home, he decided it was too dangerous. I try to keep this in mind when I drive around the many truck drivers that frequent Highway 61 in Missouri where I drive every day. I do my best to show these guys and ladies grace as they do what is now statistically the most dangerous job in America.
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Gallery Credit: Missouri Department of Revenue