According to a recent Leaders Institute study, flight attendants have the most stressful jobs in the United States, scoring 91.12 out of 100. The job can “test your patience” after ten years in the air, said Loretta Hill.
Hill, a JetBlue flight attendant, was shocked by the result. She admits: “Honestly, I find this really surprising,” she says. “Maybe it’s because I am really cut out for this type of job, as I am physically strong and have an easygoing disposition.” Nevertheless, she identifies one major obstacle: the circadian rhythm’s constant disruption.
Her profession dominates this year’s job ranking in huge part because of this disruption, which also causes fatigue, has an impact on mental health, and makes rotating shifts more difficult to manage. Firefighters, wind turbine service technicians, and operators of oil and gas service units are among the other high-pressure occupations highlighted in the same study.
Why flight attendants rank as most stressful
Basically, you get tired of living on shifting clocks. According to Hill, “I think the most stressful thing about being a flight attendant is managing the constant circadian rhythm disruption. This is the worst thing for our health, and it impacts mentally how we feel, our metabolism, our sleep, so it makes everything much more challenging.”
Overnight flights, time zone changes, short turnaround times, and unexpected holdups are just a few of the everyday realities that flight attendants deal with. When put together all of it, they create constant work-related stress.
The Leaders Institute study examined over 700 professions and evaluated factors like time pressure, public interaction, and decision-making. This mix of factors explains why a role that many consider glamorous ends up at the top of a difficult list in the U.S.
What the ranking says about other stressful work
The study also eliminates the myth that desk jobs are the only ones that cause stress. “We tend to think of stress as a white-collar issue—deadlines, emails, meetings—but this data shows that some of the most stressful jobs are also the most physical. When you combine danger, time pressure and unpredictable conditions, it’s no wonder these workers face such intense daily challenges,” says Doug Staneart of the Leaders Institute.
Operators of oil and gas service units, who handle large machinery usually in isolated locations and bad weather, come right behind flight attendants. Winch and hoist operators are right behind them, where even one mistake can have disastrous consequences.
Firefighters and wind turbine service technicians are also on the list; these jobs need people who are constantly thinking fast, that have physical endurance, and a deep sense of focus: Risk, time constraints, unpredictable circumstances, and schedules that can throw off the circadian rhythm are the basis of the occupations.
What this means for workers and employers
Hill’s response, “Maybe it’s because I am really cut out for this type of job, as I am physically strong and have an easygoing disposition.” which combines honesty and surprise, represents an overall idea: Although workplace stress increases when irregular hours and rotating shifts interfere with the circadian rhythm, and the structure of the work can be a lot to deal with, many people are suited for it and even enjoy this kind of hard jobs.
Simple tools for protecting mental health, like having quiet rest areas and clear time-off policies, and also predictable schedules when possible, can help reduce the afterword stress the body might be facing during working hours.
However, protecting your piece of mind, and watching out for fatigue, it might not be enough to avoid a possible future burnout… enjoying the rush that comes with it, might be a big part of it too.