It’s great to know which jobs are projected to have skyrocketing growth, but what’s just as important — if not more so — is knowing which jobs have plummeting outlooks.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks that information exactly. And while employment is projected to increase by 3.1% across all occupations by 2034, plenty of jobs are expected to shrink at a rapid rate, according to the BLS’ latest job projection data.
What you might notice is how machinery and artificial intelligence could play a role in the decline of certain jobs, potentially through speeding up or automating processes.
A paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research analyzed the resumes of 18 million Americans over a 17-year period. Researchers looked at which jobs individuals were able to grow into and the earning potential of those jobs, and combined those two factors to determine a “lifetime career value.”
Researchers concluded that one additional industrial robot per 1,000 workers lowered local career values by about 1.5%, meaning workers earn less and have a harder time finding other jobs on a similar or more advanced level.
And the McKinsey Global Institute reports that “between almost zero and 30 percent of the hours worked globally could be automated by 2030 … which is automation of 15% of current activities.”
According to the BLS, the following positions will see the greatest negative rate of change over the next decade. Technological changes could be a driving force.
1. Word processors and typists
Employment level in 2024: 40,000 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 25,600 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 14,400 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 36.1%
Median annual wage: $47,850
Word processors and typists put together reports, letters, forms and other types of copy. They may be tasked with other clerical duties as well. They mostly work in local government.
2. Roof bolters, mining
Employment level in 2024: 2,300 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 1,500 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 800 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 34.2%
Median annual wage: $76,640
Roof bolters work in underground mines to install roof support bolts. They work almost exclusively in coal mining, according to the BLS, but tend to make more money with nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying.
3. Telephone operators
Employment level in 2024: 4,000 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 2,900 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 1,100 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 27.5%
Median annual wage: $39,130
Telephone operators can assist customers with billing requests, like third-party charges, credits and refunds. They also provide information by utilizing directories, often organized alphabetically or geographically.
Operators in certain fields may handle emergency calls or assist children and people with disabilities.
Operators often work at general medical and surgical hospitals.
4. Switchboard operators, including answering service
Employment level in 2024: 36,600 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 27,000 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 9,600 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 26.3%
Median annual wage: $38,370
Switchboard operators use switchboards or telephone business systems to relay outgoing, incoming and interoffice calls. They often work in general medical and surgical hospitals and typically get paid most at outpatient care centers.
5. Data entry keyers
Employment level in 2024: 141,600 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 104,900 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 36,700 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 25.9%
Median annual wage: $39,850
Data entry keyers use keyboards or photo-composing perforators. Their tasks often include preparing materials for printing and verifying data. Data entry keyers who work with the U.S. Postal Service are typically the higher earners in this field.
6. Foundry mold and coremakers
Employment level in 2024: 12,700 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 9,400 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 3,300 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 25.9%
Median annual wage: $45,700
Foundry mold and coremakers make or form the wax or sand molds and cores that foundries use to produce metal castings. Most of these jobs are in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
7. Patternmakers, metal and plastic
Employment level in 2024: 1,600 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 1,200 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 400 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 24.4%
Median annual wage: $54,540
Patternmakers working with metal and plastic are typically responsible for laying out, machining, fitting and assembling castings and parts to foundry patterns, match plates or core boxes.
The top earners can make as much as $77,230 salaried, or just over $37 an hour. Those high earners are more likely to work in aerospace product and parts manufacturing, but foundries are the most common employers.
8. Underground-mining loading and moving machine operators
Employment level in 2024: 6,400 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 5,000 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 1,400 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 22.3%
Median annual wage: $68,860
Underground mining operators shuttle or use mine cars or conveyors to either load or move ore, coal or rock. They can use a variety of machinery such as hoisting engines and power shovels. Most workers in this field are employed in West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
9. Telemarketers
Employment level in 2024: 67,400 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 52,500 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 14,900 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 22.1%
Median annual wage: $34,410
Telemarketers are often responsible for that unknown number that pops up on your phone. They’re tasked with soliciting donations or orders for goods and/or services over the phone. Most of these jobs are located in Florida, Texas and California.
10. Grinding and polishing workers
Employment level in 2024: 11,800 jobs in total
Projected employment level in 2034: 9,300 jobs in total
Projected employment level change from 2024 to 2034: 2,500 fewer jobs — which is a decrease of 21.2%
Median annual wage: $41,690
These workers typically don’t need formal training and instead get on-the-job training. They polish various materials and products while remaining safe around potential contaminants. Grinding and polishing workers may also assist in the design and development of products.
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