Working at home has now become an economic necessity. The Great Recession provided jobs to more than 300,000 stay-at-home mothers in Australia. In a retirement poll, nearly 70% who are about to retire said they plan to work over age 65.

Stay-at-home workers receive benefits such as flexible hours, extra income and an enviable dress code of sweatpants and slippers. The trick is to find a well-paying and legitimate job as there many work-at-home scams are everywhere.

To help weed out scammers, here's a list of top work-at-home jobs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are occupations with decent hourly wages and growth prospects. The companies mentioned have either A or A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau with scrutinized schedules and benefits.

Web search evaluators test online search results' accuracy and examines various terms and Web sites. This job involves analytical thinking so applicants take a test before companies like Leapforce, Appen Butler Hill and Lionbridge hire them. Search jobs have flexible hours and no educational requirements. Minimum education is high school and pays around $13.50 to $17.50 per hour

Culinary consultants are friendly foodies who give kitchen advice via phone or online.Chefsline.com hires experienced cooks to answer customer questions on how not to burn casserole or what wine to pair with dinner. There's no specific degree required but a culinary or teaching experience will boost the chances of getting employed. It pays around $15 to $30 per hour

Company help lines direct to home-based customer agents who answer questions, log complaints, and complete forms in their computers. Qualifications are loose but a background in customer service helps. Top employers are Convergys, Alpine Access and West Corporation. The advantage is that they hire employees instead of contractors and benefits are similar to full-time employees. Pay range is $9 to $14 per hour.

Virtual assistants schedule appointments, maintain records and prepare reports and memos like any traditional office assistant. The difference is that most virtual assistants are contractors and not employees. They run a business with multiple clients and seek potential ones, networking through Web sites like Facebook and Twitter and the IVAA jobs board is helpful. Skills in event management, bookkeeping and social media can help. Pay range is $28 to $45 per hour.

Other notable work-at-home jobs in Australia are tech support agents, online tutors, medical transcriptionists, proofreaders, concierge and translators.

Source: YouTube.com/TheGreenAppleHome