What do you do for a living?

If you learned English some years ago, you might find that some of the words you knew for jobs have changed.

Sometimes the changes in job title reflect the fact that these jobs are no longer gender-specific. For example, "firemen" are now called "firefighters", and an air hostess is now "cabin crew" or a "flight attendant".

But in other cases, new job titles make the job sound more important or responsible. For example, a "secretary" is often now a "PA" (Personal Assistant). A "hairdresser" is a "hair stylist" and a "cleaner" is a "domestic assistant".

Some jobs involve dealing with dirt and rubbish, and their titles have changed to minimise the association with dirt. For example, "dustmen" in the UK are now called "refuse collectors" or "Waste Removal Officers".

Other jobs have euphemistic titles to make them appear more respectable. For example, what is known in the UK as a "bookie" (= a betting agent for horse races) is also called a "turf accountant" (turf = grass where the horses run). And a "stripper" (a woman who takes her clothes off in nightclubs etc) is also referred to as an "exotic dancer".

Have job titles also changed in your language?