As promised, I’ve brought this post to the top.
On June 1st, I asked our readers the question – “What is your primary occupation?”
(Physicist and engineer) Ed Minchau collated the 633 responses as of 1:46 am, June 3rd. Do read the whole thread – many of our readers have multiple or specialized fields of expertise that general categories don’t quite do justice to.
engineers: 61
computer programmers/consultants/systems analysts: 47
management: 46
military: 36
educators: 31
scientists: 28
small business: 28
technicians/technologists: 27
accountants/bookkeepers/economists/taxation/insurance: 24
construction/electricians/plumbers/carpenters/contractors: 23
financiers/brokers/bankers: 21
farmer/rancher/cowboy/agriculture/veterinary: 19
stay-at-home parents: 18
consultants: 18
sales: 16
pilots/air traffic control: 15
lawyers/legal assistants/advocates: 14
doctors/nurses/healthcare: 14
pastors/priests/missionaries/social workers/psychologists/counselors: 13
civil servants: 12
artists/musicians/photographers: 12
manufacturing/machinists: 10
writers/journalists/reporters: 10
police/corrections/security/investigation: 8
students: 8
truckers/railroad workers: 8
statisticians/actuaries/data analysts/librarians: 8
architects/draftsmen/urban planners: 8
radio/television/telecom: 7
mechanics/heavy equipment operators: 6
oil workers: 6
real estate: 4
forestry: 3
purchasing/logistics/warehousing: 3
secretary/administrative assistant:3
quality assurance: 2
map maker/surveyor: 2
human resources: 2
other: 12
total: 633 (ignored obvious duplicate entries, general comments)
Oh, and … whorehouse piano players (aspiring or claiming to be): 10
piano teachers (listed under educators): 2
Responses are still trickling in.
Thanks to everyone who participated. To quote (air traffic controller) “Yukon Gold” – “Boy, what a bunch of highly-educated, highly learned and experienced bunch of mouth-breathing knuckle draggers we are.”
And to think – we do it all in our pajamas!
Note – submissions are still welcome, but please refrain from using this thread to chatter about the survey. If you wish to discuss the survey, please do so here.
Original post continues below:
About 18 months ago, I asked readers to share their ages in a dedicated comments thread, in response to yet another media portrayal of blog readers as “tech savvy twenty-somethings”. As it turned out, around here the “tech savvy” includes a lot more 40, 50 and 60 year olds than most people would have guessed.
Today, I have a different question: What is your primary occupation? (or occupation prior to retirement). No need to provide extensive information, just a quick job title (eg. in my case, “freelance commercial artist”.)
I already know you encompass a pretty wide field of expertise, based on some of the discussions here. I think it would be interesting to find out just how wide it is.
I’d like to encourage those who are regular readers but who don’t typically comment to participate in this one. You aren’t required to provide a name or valid email address.
Income Tax Auditor, Certified General Accountant, dad to three young kids.
Keep up the great work, Kate.
Software developer
Started as a school teacher, finished in construction, now retired and watching from Mexico.
Wow,, is impressed,, opps almost forgot, Snr NCM , CF, 43
Lawyer
Clinical pharmacist (PharmD), age 48
Intensive care pharmacist for 10 years, chief pharmacist for large teaching hospital, researcher, educator, now providing scientific advice on drugs to government agency
SDA keeps me sane
Writer/researcher, consultant.
Accountant, healthcare
Kate, I would love a poll in the future as to where we all live. How many are from outside of Canada such as myself?
Cool list…salutations to you all. The stories I could tell about pianos and whorehouses…
Federal tax enforcement/insolvency specialist…former epizootiological pathobiologist. (yeah, like how many job listings have you seen for “epizootiological pathobiologists”?…) 60 this year, dammit. Making lawyers honest, one at a time.
Retired musician, ex Beatle.
50 yr. old Federal government employee.
I’ve been visiting this site for years now. I don’t watch, listen or read MSM anymore. Get my news and views from blogs like this. Keep up the good work Kate.
a prairie gal by heart … who recently traded the Rocky Mountains for the mountains of bureaucracy in Ottawa (aka: civil servant)
Underemployed research assistant, just graduated
Consultant, Advisor, Technology Entrepreneur
Missionary / Web Developer
University Professor & Administrator
Video Producer. Age 44.
Spent most of my adult life in the Cdn Navy.
Retired military-
My Troop won the gunnery competition at RV ’81.
Also 20 years in the Intelligence Branch.
Cheers
Research Chemist, 56 years old
Thanks SK ya had me baffled.
Meteorologist.
molecular biology lab technician
SDA is part of my daily routine
thanks to Kate and all posters for daily news and entertainment
Part time teacher, bookkeeper & piano teacher, 32.
Journeyman Plumber/Gasfitter…..30yrs experience
sessional lecturer
sessional lecturer
Librarian and archivist, Ph.d in History
oilfield work again
sorry forgot age 49
Electrical engineer
>20 years in telecom manufacturing
Business Analyst – age 38
Retired – financial advisor, federal gov’t
Renewable Energies Consulting Engineer.
I missed the age thing so BTW – 24.
agricultural and environmental services
Oil well operator. The best job a Canadian conservative could have…
28 years old.
Corrections Officer, adult system. age 46
Hi Kate, what a wide spectrum of readers you have! I’m a Farm Manager, living among many pump jacks in the SE. Age 47.
Portfolio Manager, 36
22, Student – toxicology
Dietitian for Al Gore and Rosie O’donnel.
Currently unemployed.
semi-retired accountant – age 67 – proud active Conservative in Conservative rural Ontario riding both Federal and Provincial – daily reader of SDA – thank you Kate
63 Retired RCAF/CAF pilot, 25 years. Experienced offshore sailor, Helped build a two man energy management company in South Florida into a sector entity in 7 years. Stories I could tell. Good to see Bob Wood here, haven’t seen him since the late seventies. It’s amazing how time flies. I keep busy rebuilding my old house, upgrading my boat and bugging the editor of the local dead tree rag.
master optician, 43
funeral director
Gargler of thumb tacks and part time roof nailer.
Magnetic personality with an iron will.
serial entrepreneur & political junkie in small town Alberta, age 44. Thanks Kate, I learn a lot here!
Piano bar Whore. When I’m not…
42, air traffic controller
very Conservative,anti-liberal Social Worker..and lots of times a ‘tongue-biter’
truck driver