___________________________________ The Best Jobs Lists: Jobs for Each of the Six Personality Types
The Best Jobs for Each Personality
Type with a High Percentage of
Self-Employed Workers
About 8 percent of all working people are self-employed or own their own business.! is
substantial part of our workforce gets little mention in most career books.
! e jobs in the lists in this section are selected from the 50 best jobs for each personality type,
and all have 8 percent or more self-employed workers. Many jobs in these lists, such as the
various types of artists, are held by people who operate one- or two-person businesses and
who may also do this work part time.! ose in other occupations, such as Carpenters, often
work on a per-job basis under the supervision of others.
As you will see from these lists, self-employed people hold a wide range of jobs at all levels
of pay and skill. Many are in the arts (Artistic), construction (Realistic), or health-care
(Investigative) professions, but many other fi elds are also represented. Also, while the
lists do not include data on age and gender, older workers and women make up a rapidly
growing part of the self-employed population. For example, some highly experienced older
workers set up consulting and other small businesses following a layoff or as an alternative
to full retirement. Large numbers of women are forming small businesses or creating self-
employment opportunities as an alternative to traditional employment.
Realistic Jobs with the Highest Percentage of Self-Employed Workers
Percent Self-
Job Employed Workers
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance ............................................................................ 42.2%
- Tile and Marble Setters ........................................................................................................ 33.8%
- Carpenters ........................................................................................................................... 31.8%
- Athletes and Sports Competitors ........................................................................................ 27.0%
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons .......................................................................................... 24.5%
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers ........................................................................................ 23.0%
- Roofers ................................................................................................................................ 20.1%
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics ................................................................ 16.8%
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers ............................................................................ 14.1%
- Audio and Video Equipment Technicians ............................................................................ 12.8%
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers .............................. 12.7%
- Plumbers, Pipe! tters, and Steam! tters ............................................................................... 12.3%
- Electricians .......................................................................................................................... 10.7%
- Construction and Building Inspectors ................................................................................... 9.4%
- Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer ................................................................................ 8.8%
