The 10 most stressful industries in the US

Between layoffs and budget cuts, most industries are feeling some pain so far in 2023. But some workers are having a harder time than others. 

Vivian Health, a marketplace for healthcare jobs, asked over 1,000 workers across the U.S. to rate how stressful their jobs are on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being "very stressful." Nearly half of respondents, regardless of industry, said their job was stressful, and 50% are considering changing their industry or actively applying for another job. On average, workers scored their job-related stress at 6.23 — healthcare workers took the number one spot, with an average score of 6.88. 

"Healthcare workers experience a range of different stressors," says Rachel Norton, nurse and advocate for Vivian Health. "This work-related stress can come from dealing with difficult patients and family members, traumatic experiences, lack of supplies and resources and workforce shortages."

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It's no secret that healthcare workers have faced the unimaginable in the last three years as COVID-19 furthered staffing shortages and maxed out hospital capacity. In fact, stress and burnout have led to 100,000 nurses leaving the workforce, and another 610,388 nurses are expected to retire before 2027, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. A study from Harvard Medical School found that 24% of doctors want to leave their jobs within two years.

Norton notes that many industries are experiencing a lack of resources and talent due to the pandemic, and it will be difficult for them to bounce back, especially in the wake of further economic uncertainty this year. 

Here are 10 industries voted the most stressful to work in, according to Vivian Health.