Why Have Rankings of All Professions Declined between 2019-2023?
According to a Gallup poll during December 1-15, 2025, 78% of Americans consider nurses highly honest and ethical, making them the most trusted of 21 professions rated in Gallup’s annual measurement. Military veterans are next at 67%, followed by medical doctors (57%), and pharmacists (53%). The rankings are a majority positive for these professions. However, the rankings of honesty and ethics between 2019-2023 have all declined with respect to high and very high rankings. There are a variety of reasons for the decline, one of which is the dissolution many Americans have with anything resembling support for traditional professions. There is a negative view of the status quo. We believe, as a culture, that things are getting worse. Our basic needs are not being met. There is a great deal of acrimony in society.
The next grouping of professions tilt positive including high school teachers with respect to high and very high ranking for honesty and ethics (50%), followed by police officers (37%), accountants (35%), funeral directors (32%), and the clergy (27%). Once again, the rankings are in decline.
The least trusted professions, all less than 10% high and very high, are stockbrokers (9%), Car salespeople (7%), members of Congress (7%); no surprise here and telemarketers (6%); even less surprise here.
Nurses have led the pack for 25 years. Seven of the 21 professions have reached new lows: pharmacists, high school teachers, clergy members, and business executives. With the exception of business executives, it is somewhat surprising for these professions to have reached new lows.
Americans view many professions with low honesty and ethics due to factors like political polarization, media sensationalism, economic shifts, and a perceived focus on profit over people, leading to general distrust amplified by scandals. We hear about fraud and other bad behaviors almost every day. However, it goes deeper than that, involving uncivilized behavior and a narcissistic tendency to pursue one’s self-interest even at the cost of causing harm to others.
I believe we are suffering from a decline in ethical leadership in many professions. It seems our society has been focusing more and more attention on self-serving activities and less and less on serving the public trust.
John C. Maxwell is a renowned American author, speaker, coach, and pastor, widely recognized as a leading global expert in leadership development, known for books like The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, training millions worldwide, and founding organizations like Maxwell Leadership and EQUIP to teach leadership principles to diverse groups, including Fortune 500 leaders and presidents of nations. One quote from Maxwell says a lot about our problems with respect to honesty and ethics: A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
Blog posted on January 15, 2026, by Steven Mintz, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Find out more about Steve’s activities at: https://www.stevenmintzethics.com/. Sign up for his blogs at: https://www.ethicssage.com and https://www.workplaceethicsadvice.com.