Where do you rank?

According to the Roy Morgan Image of Professions Survey 2016 a very large majority, 92% (unchanged from 2015) of Australians aged 14 and over rate Nurses as the most ethical and honest profession – the 22nd year in a row since they were first included on the survey.

Of all 30 professions surveyed in 2015 a majority (23) increased in regards to ethics and honesty while four professions decreased and only three professions were unchanged.

Other professions that also gained high ratings for ethics and honesty in 2015, included Doctors 86% (up 2%), Pharmacists 86% (up 2%), Engineers 78% (up 4%), School Teachers 77% (down 1%), Dentists 75% (up 4%), Police 72% (up 3% at an all-time high and up from 53% in 1988 & 1989), High Court Judges 71% (up 3%) and State Supreme Court Judges 70% (up 1%).

Amongst the losers in 2015 were Ministers of Religion 35% (down 4%); down from a high of 59% in 1996 when they were first included and now at the lowest they have ever been rated; Bank Managers 30% (down 4%, and down 13% since 2014); the lowest since 2002 (a record low of 29%) and well below their rating in 1988 of 54%; and Union Leaders 13% (down 1%) following last year’s Royal Commission into union corruption.

The biggest gainers in 2015 were University Lecturers 68% (up 7%) and Accountants 51% (up 6%), with other strong gainers including Public Servants 39% (up 4%), Lawyers 35% (up 4%), Directors of Public Companies 26% (up 4%) and, perhaps surprisingly on the eve of a Federal Election, Federal MPs 17% (up 4%).

The lowest ranked profession is once again Car Salesmen 4% (unchanged) – a position they have held for over 30 years with the next lowest being Advertising people 9% (up 4%, now the same as 2013) and Real Estate Agents 10% (up 1%).
Read the full report here.