27 Jobs That Will Disappear This Decade

The unemployment spike caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020 has been devastating. More than 30 million Americans have lost their jobs, and the unemployment rate has spiked to nearly 20%. The good news is economists believe that many of these jobs will return once the rate of infection slows or a vaccine is developed. However, there are some jobs that may never return, and it has little to do with the coronavirus itself.

The evolution of the job market is a natural occurrence. Over time, as the economy grows and technology advances, some jobs simply get phased out. This trend is continual, regardless of exogenous events such as global pandemics. Automation is a constant threat to certain types of jobs, as companies are constantly seeking ways to perform tasks more efficiently and inexpensively. Other jobs fall victim to funding limitations or simple obsolescence.

To help identify which jobs are most at risk, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically occupational projections and worker characteristics. GOBankingRates focused on jobs with the largest percentage decline in job growth outlook for 2018 to 2028 to determine which occupations are most likely to disappear by the end of the decade. Jobs were ranked by anticipated percentage of jobs lost over the next decade, from smallest to largest.

Many of the anticipated job losses come in industries with repetitive tasks that can be easily replicated by intelligent machines. To position yourself away from the most susceptible jobs, consider looking for an opening in a high-paying, fast-growing industry.

Last updated: June 19, 2020

28. Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders

• 2018 total employment: 22,100
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 4,200
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 18.90%

See: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job

27. Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

• 2018 total employment: 30,700
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 5,900
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 19.20%

26. Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

• 2018 total employment: 800
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 200
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 19.30%

25. Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders

• 2018 total employment: 9,700
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 1,900
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 19.40%

24. Forging Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

• 2018 total employment: 18,600
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 3,600
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 19.50%

23. Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants

• 2018 total employment: 622,500
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 123,000
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 19.80%

22. Postal Service Mail Carriers

• 2018 total employment: 328,700
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 65,100
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 19.80%

21. Postal Service Clerks

• 2018 total employment: 75,700
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 15,000
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 19.80%

Read: 15 Odd Jobs That Pay Insanely Well

20. Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

• 2018 total employment: 11,600
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 2,400
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 20.50%

19. Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

• 2018 total employment: 19,800
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 4,100
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 20.70%

18. Prepress Technicians and Workers

• 2018 total employment: 29,900
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 6,200
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 20.80%

17. Pressers, Textile, Garment and Related Materials

• 2018 total employment: 39,900
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 8,500
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 21.20%

16. Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

• 2018 total employment: 17,100
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 3,600
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 21.30%

15. Coil Winders, Tapers and Finishers

• 2018 total employment: 12,300
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 2,700
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 21.60%

Look: 40 Legit Companies That Will Pay You To Work From Home

14. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging and Systems Assemblers

• 2018 total employment: 45,100
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 9,900
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 22.00%

13. Data Entry Keyers

• 2018 total employment: 187,300
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 43,400
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 23.20%

12. Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors and Processing Machine Operators

• 2018 total employment: 99,700
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 23,700
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 23.80%

11. Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

• 2018 total employment: 73,400
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 17,500
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 23.80%

10. Computer Operators

• 2018 total employment: 36,800
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 8,900
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 24.10%

Don’t Miss: 5 Industries That Are Recession-Proof

9. Mine Shuttle Car Operators

• 2018 total employment: 1,700
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 400
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 25.30%

8. Postmasters and Mail Superintendents

• 2018 total employment: 13,300
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 3,700
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 27.50%

7. Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

• 2018 total employment: 10,700
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 3,000
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 28.40%

6. Telephone Operators

• 2018 total employment: 5,700
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 1,600
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 28.40%

5. Watch Repairers

• 2018 total employment: 3,000
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 900
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 29.60%

Also See: 10 Essential Jobs Across America With Big Paychecks for Employees

4. Word Processors and Typists

• 2018 total employment: 60,400
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 20,400
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 33.80%

3. Parking Enforcement Workers

• 2018 total employment: 8,600
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 3,100
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 36.70%

2. Respiratory Therapy Technicians

• 2018 total employment: 9,300
• Projected change from 2018 to 2028:
  • Number of jobs lost: 5,300
  • Percentage of jobs lost: 57.50%

1. What This Means for You

Although this may seem like a long list of disappearing occupations, the truth is that the economy is constantly reinventing itself. While any number of catalysts may contribute to job losses in particular fields, the flip side of this is that other industries are rapidly expanding. In fact, many of the jobs that are falling by the wayside are lower paying, while many of the fastest-growing jobs are in high-wage industries.

Here are some steps you can take to avoid falling victim to a dying industry:

• Get an education

Many of the jobs that will vanish due to automation are lower-skill jobs that don’t require a college education. Generally speaking, occupations that require a bachelor’s or master’s degree are more resistant to job loss due to automation.

• Research job trends

Although it can happen, industries aren’t generally wiped out overnight. Typically, jobs will show years of steady decline before they are completely obsolete. Consult statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to understand which industries are on the way out. Get ahead of the curve by looking for another job first. 

• Choose a high-paying, fast-growing industry

BLS statistics don’t only show which industries are dying; they also show which jobs are on the upswing. If you’re looking to avoid potential job loss, consider hopping over to an industry with increasing demand. 

More From GOBankingRates

• 24 Ways To Make This Week’s Paycheck Go Further
• Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed if an Emergency Happens
• 100 Ways To Make Money Without a 9-to-5
• 21 Smartest Ways To Invest Your Money Right Now

Methodology: In order to find jobs that will disappear by the end of this decade, GOBankingRates used the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupational projections and worker characteristics dataset to find the occupations with the largest percentage decline in (1) job growth outlook for 2018-2028. Once these jobs were selected, GOBankingRates also found the following factors for each occupation: (2) 2018 total employment numbers; (3) total employment change projection from 2018-2028; (4) 2019 median annual wage; (5) typical entry-level education required; (6) work experience in a related occupation needed; and (7) typical on-the-job training required. All data was sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is up to date as of June 9, 2020.

About the Author

John Csiszar

After earning a B.A. in English with a Specialization in Business from UCLA, John Csiszar worked in the financial services industry as a registered representative for 18 years. Along the way, Csiszar earned both Certified Financial Planner and Registered Investment Adviser designations, in addition to being licensed as a life agent, while working for both a major Wall Street wirehouse and for his own investment advisory firm. During his time as an advisor, Csiszar managed over $100 million in client assets while providing individualized investment plans for hundreds of clients.

Read More