By Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Teo Wan Gek & Estelle Low

Surely a job paying more than $1,000 will find ready takers, especially in these difficult times? Not always true - Singaporeans are shunning certain jobs. A Sunday Times check found 10 jobs that pay more than $1,000 which locals, even jobless ones, are reluctant to take up.

1 Bus driver

Salary: $1,700 to $3,500

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Long and irregular hours, dealing with difficult commuters

Said Ms Tammy Tan, spokesman for SBS Transit: 'It is a challenge attracting Singaporeans to join us as Bus Captains. This is despite our various efforts over the years to promote the profession.'

2 Telemarketer

Salary: $800 to $1,000 plus commissions

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Lots of patience and perseverance required

Said Ms Jessica Goh, project manager of Plugworkz, a call centre: 'It is tough to get locals. Not all can take the hardship. Some even go missing after we have trained them.'

3 Customer service officer

Salary: $1,000 to $2,000

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires dealing with rude and angry customers on a daily basis; night shift too

Said Mr Adrian Tan, managing director of HR consultancy Recruit Plus: 'This has always been one of the harder positions to fill. Nobody wants to be a punching bag.'

4 Security guard

Salary: $1,200 to $1,300

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires 12-hour shifts

Said Mr Raja Muthi, executive officer at King's Security: 'Some quit after one day because they can't take the long working hours.

'There's an image problem too. People think it's for the uneducated, and that we are just watchdogs. It's not a glamorous job.'

5 Retail assistant

Salary: $1,000 to $1,800

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Being constantly on one's feet

Said Ms Mary Lin, director of Glitter Glam: 'It is still hard to recruit, but the recession has made people less fussy. Before, we had people who fixed the interview but did not turn up.'

6 Warehouse assistant

Salary: $900 to $1,400

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Warehouses are often in outlying areas, such as Tuas. Many locals are picky about location and working hours

Said Ms C. Loh, manager at a recruitment agency: 'Locals shun such jobs because the warehouse is located, say, at Jurong East or they have to work 12-hour shifts.'

7 Delivery driver

Salary: $1,400 to $1,600

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Dislike carrying heavy loads

Said Ms Shandy Tan, manager at Sim Lian Construction: 'We have labourers who are supposed to carry the material, but if the driver can help to carry some, it would make the work faster. We get many calls asking if they have to carry the stuff.'

8 Waitress

Salary: $1,800 onwards excluding tips

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires long hours on a night shift, including serving rowdy and drunk customers

Said Mr K. Lim, manager of a karaoke lounge in Lavender: 'My workers can get tips that are double their basic salary, but they are mostly work permit holders from China and Malaysia.'

9 Masseuse

Salary: $1,000 onwards, depending on experience

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Social stigma, and dealing with sticky or smelly bodies

Said Mr W.T. Chua, owner of a spa in Bedok: 'It is quite difficult to hire locals, who think that being a masseuse is not respectable. It's a matter of perception.'

10 Foot reflexologist

Salary: $1,000 onwards, depending on experience

Why Singaporeans shun the job: Touching others' feet is considered degrading

Said Ms Ang May Lin, senior therapist at a spa which has saunas in the Orchard area: 'Locals prefer to work in an air-con environment and be faced with pleasant things. They think they're too high-class.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.