Software Engineer  is the best job to have in 2012, according to employment service CareerCast's study about the best and worst jobs in the modern job market.  The worst job? Lumberjack.

Jobs at the top of the table, after software engineer, are actuary, human resources manager, dental hygienist and financial planner. While at the other end of the spectrum are dairy farmer, soldier, oil rig worker, newspaper journalist and waiter or waitress, as well as worst placed lumberjack.

The results of the study also reveal, between the lines, the values of the current society, which distances itself from basic jobs which require better physical skills, and values more - hence offers better opportunities for more sophisticated jobs, which require higher intellectual skills.

The aim of the study, according to CareerCast, is to provide objective evaluations of different jobs using measurable parameters, such as salary, stress and hiring opportunities, and thus help people make informed choices about careers. Physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook are measured and scored to give each of the 200 jobs a ranking.

Ironically, what the study proves with an attempt at objective evaluation of jobs is how subjective the question is. A host of comments on the site contest the ranking and evaluation of pretty much all 200 jobs. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali said, “If I'd been a garbage man, I'd have been the greatest garbage man in the world,” and to some extent this view appears in the comments, people doing 'objectively' bad jobs claim to love them.

Pride in the challenges faced in different jobs also comes across and in general, people are quick to dispute their job being labeled 'easy' or 'cushy'. Forbes journalist Jeff Bercovici defended his job and wrote an article on why he believes its the best job in the world.  See the report here.

Liam Lever, liam,@romania-insider.com