The toughest jobs in the U.S. include firefighters, construction workers, and nurses.
A poll of 2,000 employed adults found 21 percent believe working in mining or oil is one of the most gruelling jobs around, while 11 percent think being a doctor is a role only for the most resilient.
Others feel that only the iron-willed could be a roofer (10 percent) or a teacher (eight percent).
According to those polled, challenging jobs involve being on your feet all day (40 percent), working in all weather conditions (38 percent), and dealing with trauma or distressing situations (34 percent).
Three-quarters (75 percent) claim that standing up all day can have serious repercussions on long-term health.
Mike Maloney, chief product officer for CAT Footwear, which has launched a new work boot with three layers of comfort technology to keep people moving with purpose, said: “Working on your feet all day has many benefits, but not many people think about the long-term impact it can have on your body.
“Trade workers shape our world with grit and pride, but the toll this work can take often goes unseen.
“We know the work they do is demanding, but life outside of work matters just as much; so we want to keep them moving both on and off the clock.”
The study found that those who work in construction, manufacturing, and engineering spend an average of just under seven hours a day on their feet.
And people in healthcare and social services, such as nurses, will be on their feet for an average of six hours and eight minutes.
These workers also do more than 6,500 steps a day, with people working in the environment, agriculture, and sustainability doing 7,831 a day each on average.
Nearly six in 10 (57 percent) of all respondents went as far as to say sometimes, the single hardest part of their job is how much time they spend standing up.
And while 60 percent have felt pain in their feet after excessive standing, 59 percent claimed it causes back issues, while 11 percent even feel pain in their hands.
As many as 47 percent have turned down an invite or had to miss out because their body was too sore after a shift.
But 36 percent of respondents fear admitting their feet hurt would make them look ‘weak’ in front of colleagues.
Rising to 43 percent of men and dropping to 31 percent of women, according to the OnePoll.com data.
Mike Maloney for CAT footwear, whose new work boot is available in classic six and eight-inch Chelsea and Wellington styles, added: “Obviously, written down, it sounds crazy that admitting your feet hurt makes you look weak.
“But in a pressurised working environment, where perhaps footwear is only one issue workers have to deal with, it’s not hard to imagine that stigma kicking in.
“One thing people can do to help their feet – and the rest of their bodies – is ensure they are wearing comfortable and appropriate footwear.”
Toughest Jobs in the U.S.
1. Firefighter
2. Police officer
3. Construction worker
4. Miner/oil worker
5. Nurse
6. Paramedic
7. Agricultural / farm worker
8. Doctor
9. Roofer
10. Healthcare assistant/caregiver
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