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Librarians Rank Low in Stress
and Job Outlook

Librarians may have poor job prospects but their duties are not very stressful, according to a new book that rates jobs by six criteria -- income, stress, physical demands, potential growth, job security, and work environment. Les Krantz, author of the Jobs Rated Almanac (St. Martin’s Griffin, 1999), ranks 250 careers by these factors, from U.S. president at the top to medical records technician at the bottom.

Librarians rank ninth-lowest in job stress, about the same as a bookkeeper. Potential job growth for the profession is depressed, with librarians having the fifth-lowest prospects. However, Krantz fails to cite exact sources for his data other than the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Office, and unspecified industry documents.

Librarians came in 108th in overall scores, right between shipping/receiving clerk and guard. They ranked 108th (between aircraft mechanics and photojournalists) in salary, and 195th (between real estate agents and janitors) in job security.

Posted March 22, 1999.

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Librarians Rank Low in Stress
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