A recent study by researchers from Essex University has revealed the most boring professions in the world.
The research, published in the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, attempts to understand the factors which led people to be labelled as "boring" by their peers. This analysed factors such as hobbies, personality traits and importantly, their work.
The study investigated common beliefs about which professions are considered boring, rather than analysing the actual prevalence of these positions among individuals perceived as boring. Unfortunately for the mathematically gifted, data, money-related and actuary positions were commonly ranked among the dullest careers by a sample size of 500 participants.
At the top of the ranking is data analysts, particularly those working in data entry or actuarial services. Those in the survey overwhelmingly labelled this profession as boring.
In second place for the most boring profession, survey participants identified accounting. Accountants especially were viewed to be a profession occupied by people seen as boring.
In a similar vein, tax consultants, insurance agents, tax officers and other taxation and insurance positions ranked third in the boring scale. In fourth place are cleaners and in fifth were those employed in banking and finance.
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According to the study, these positions all involved too much repetition and rigidity to be an interesting form of employment. Those commonly ranked as more interesting professions usually entailed more creativity and flexibility. Unfortunate for many, as these fields are regularly ranked among the highest paying in Belgium. In 2023, the average gross wage for a worker in financial services in Belgium was €5,200.
The same study identified professions such as journalism, teaching, or fields in the arts or sciences. While statistically more interesting, at least according to the survey, workers in these fields are unlikely to become as rich as their dull counterparts.
