Lawyers have topped the clergy – of all religions – on a list of New Zealand’s most trustworthy professions.
The annual
Readers Digest Who do we trust? survey lists the top 50 most trusted individuals, as well as the top 50 most trusted professions. While firefighters and paramedics topped the list at numbers one and two, respectively, lawyers came in at a not-too-shabby 37, beating airport baggage handlers (38), CEOs (41), and, er…journalists (43).
“The people we trust are those we feel we can rely on – people who are intrinsically stable and dependable,” says New Zealand psychologist Dr Sara Chatwin in the Reader’s Digest report. “Working with that trust formula, it is little wonder who the top place-getters are – the country’s most trusted professions have set down solid roots.”
Interestingly, New Zealanders appear to trust those looking after their finances – bankers (32) and financial planners (40) lower than they do the people who feed them – chefs (18), or do their hair – hairdressers (20).
“The bottom places are filled by those seen as self-seeking or tiresome. We trust politicians (47) to the same extent we do sex workers (47)…At the bottom of the heap are telemarketers and door-to-door salespeople who seem to have phoned us at dinnertime or knocked on our doors just one too many times for us to have any patience left.”
However, seeing as this entire article was produced by a journalist, perhaps it’s best not to take it all too seriously.
2014’s most trusted professionals
1. Firefighters
2. Paramedics
2. Rescue volunteers
4. Nurses
5. Pilots
6. Doctors
7. Pharmacists
8. Veterinarians
9. Armed Forces personnel
10. Police
11. Teachers
11. Scientists
13. Childcare workers
14. Farmers
14. Dentists
16. Bus/train/tram drivers
16. Flight attendants
18. Chefs
18. Electricians
20. Hairdressers
21. Architects
21. Plumbers
23. Builders
23. Postal workers
25. Authors
25. Waiters
27. Mechanics
27. Truck drivers
27. IT technicians
30. Accountants
31. Shop assistants
32. Cleaners
32. Bankers
32. Personal trainers
35. Taxi drivers
36. Charity collectors
37. Lawyers
37. Airport baggage handlers
39. Clergy (all religions)
40. Financial planners
41. CEOs
42. Call centre staff
43. Journalists
44. Real estate agents
45. Insurance salespeople
46. Car salespeople
47. Sex workers
47. Politicians
49. Door-to-door salespeople
49. Telemarketers
