Doctors and nurses top list of professions most lovelorn Australians are attracted to

When it comes to love, Australians are attracted to some particular professions more than others. See the full list.

Respect for our health professionals during the pandemic has spilled into our love lives with nurses and doctors the most attractive professions to Australian men and women, a new survey shows.

The eHarmony survey found 30 per cent of men say nurses are the most attractive profession while 36 per cent of women favour doctors. Tradies on the tools are a close second choice for women (35 per cent) while models are the second most attractive job to Aussie men.

Psychologist Sharon Draper believes the pandemic has influenced the popularity of doctors and nurses.

“In an older day fashion, women often looked at doctors for financial stability as a potential partner,” Draper says.

“But, based on what we’ve all been through over the last couple of years, it’s not unreasonable to think we’re also looking for someone who can provide care, who is knowledgeable and who can provide stable support.

“We know that trustworthiness is the number one desired trait in a potential partner and doctors and nurses were our most trusted source of support during the pandemic so it’s not surprising to see them take out the top spots.”

Doctors and nurses were ranked as the top professions Australian women and men are attracted to respectively in the eHarmony survey.

COMPATIBILITY

Draper says a person’s profession has always been one of the primary pieces of information sought when people meet each other because we associate personality traits with certain careers. We then use these traits to make judgments about a potential partner and our compatibility with them.

The survey of 2000 Australians aged over 18 found most Australians (59 per cent) ask a potential partner what they do for work on a first date.

It has a significant impact on attraction, with 40 per cent of Australians thinking someone’s job can make them attractive, or less attractive, and while a third (34 per cent) of people say they don’t care what their potential partner earns, 14 per cent believe the lowest income that would be acceptable for a potential partner is $110,000.

Relationship expert and life coach Daniel Chidiac says a person’s job is a good indication of life values and morals. “It’s about heading in the same direction as you so, if you’re not okay being with someone who’s always travelling, a truck driver will be an issue,” Chidiac says. “It has to do with your wants and needs in a relationship, even financially. It may seem shallow but if you want to have a few holidays each year, you may not want to carry someone who’s earning less than you, so you should take that into consideration because it’s about the lifestyle you want to share with someone.”

PERFECT MATCH

When personal trainer Laura Trew, 35, met her electrician partner Matthew Petracca, 36, she recalled her mother’s advice and felt she was on the right path.

Personal trainer Laura Trew and her tradie partner Matthew Petracca.

“My mum, who passed away soon after I met Matt, always said you need a man who knows how to get things done and then you’ll never go looking for another man,” Trew says.

“Matt and I pretty much knew each other’s jobs straight away and when he said he was an electrician I thought he had to be smart, hardworking, disciplined and, yes, that he’d get things done.”

Now parents to their nine-month-old son, Jackson, Trew says Petracca is her perfect, most compatible, life partner. He built the outdoor deck at their Sandhurst home and did the landscaping himself. He’s quick to fix any problems in the house, shares the cooking and understands the demands of her job as well. “He’s always understood my discipline, which is great because it’s not easy for some people to date a personal trainer who goes to bed at 8.30pm and gets up at 4.30am,” she says.

Most attractive professions, according to Australian men

1. Nurse (30%)

2. Model (27%)

3. Flight Attendant (26%)

3. Teacher (26%)

5. Doctor (24%)

6. Lawyer (23%)

7. Personal Trainer (20%)

8. Dancer (19%)

9. Musician (18%)

10. Scientist (17%)

Most attractive professions, according to Australian women

1. Doctor (36%)

2. Tradie (35%)

3. Firefighter (33%)

4. Engineer (29%)

5. Lawyer (28%)

5. Police (28%)

7. Pilot (26%)

8. Vet (26%)

9. Architect (26%)

10. Teacher (24%)

Least attractive professions, according to Australian men

1. Truck driver (29%)

2. Funeral director (28%)

3. Exotic dancer (24%)

4. Cleaner (22%)

5. Politician (22%)

6. Security guard (19%)

7. Lawyer (15%)

8. Real estate agent (16%)

9. Tradie (10%)

10. Accountant (9%)

Least attractive professions, according to Australian women

1. Exotic dancer (36%)

2. Funeral director (34%)

3. Truck driver (29%)

4. Politician (28%)

5. Cleaner (26%)

6. Security guard (19%)

7. Real estate agent (19%)

8. Model (16%)

9. Bartender (14%)

10. Dancer (13%)