Insurance salespeople are among the least trusted professions, with only politicians and door-to-door salespeople being less reputable – even sex workers are deemed to have more integrity.
Of 50 professions ranked in order of most trusted by Reader’s Digest’s ‘Most Trusted Professions 2013’ poll, insurance came in at 48.
Strangely enough, sex workers are considered more reliable, dependable and honest than insurance, taking 46th place.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, firefighters and paramedics took joint first place. “Anyone running into a burning building when everybody else is running out deserves your full trust,” said one poll participant.
Rescue volunteers ranked third, nurses fourth, pilots fifth and doctors sixth.
Interestingly, farmers are considered more trustworthy than the police, teachers and the armed forces personnel, scooping 10th place.
The clergy came in at a disappointing 38th place, beaten by bankers at 35, financial planners at 36, and airport baggage handlers at 37.
Journalists were only slightly more trustworthy than sex workers, ranking 43rd on the list.
Here is the full list of the ‘Professions We Trust’:
1. Firefighters
1. Paramedics
3. Rescue volunteers
4. Nurses
5. Pilots
6. Doctors
7. Pharmacists
8. Veterinarians
9. Air traffic controllers
10. Farmers
11. Scientists
12. Armed Forces personnel
13. Police
14. Dentists
15. Teachers
16. Childcare workers
17. Flight attendants
18. Bus/Train/Tram drivers
19. Locksmiths
20. Hairdressers
21. Postal workers
22. Waiters
23. Computer technicians
24. Security guards
25. Cleaners
26. Builders
27. Alternative health practitioners
28. Plumbers
29. Mechanics
30. Accountants
31. Shop assistants
32. Truck drivers
33. Charity collectors
34. Professional sportspeople
35. Bankers
36. Financial planners
37. Airport baggage handlers
38. Clergy (all religions)
39. Lawyers
40. Tow-truck drivers
41. CEOs
42. Taxi drivers
43. Journalists
44. Talkback radio hosts
45. Real estate agents
46. Sex workers
47. Call centre staff
48. Insurance salespeople
49. Politicians
50. Door-to-door salespeople
