The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently projected estimates on the fastest-declining occupations from 2020 to 2030, with many of them expected to decline by well over 20%. Here’s what that will mean: hundreds of thousands of lost jobs within a decade.
At the same time, however, other occupations are seeing increased demand, as you’ll see in “The 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs for the Next 10 Years.”
Read on to check out the 10 jobs that are expected to see the greatest decline by 2030, going from the 10th greatest to the job facing the greatest change.
10. Shoe machine operators
Employment in 2020: 5,000 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 3,900 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 21.6%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $30,630
9. Data entry keyers
Employment in 2020: 158,400 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 122,800 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 22.5%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $34,440
8. Switchboard operators (includes answering services)
Employment in 2020: 59,900 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 46,300 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 22.7%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $31,430
7. Door-to-door sales, news and street vendors
Employment in 2020: 54,000 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 41,000 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 24.1%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $29,730
6. Watch and clock repairers
Employment in 2020: 2,800 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 2,100 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 24.9%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $45,290
5. Telephone operators
Employment in 2020: 4,800 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 3,600 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 25.4%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $37,710
4. Hand cutters and trimmers
Employment in 2020: 8,100 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 5,700 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 29.7%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $31,630
3. Nuclear power reactor operators
Employment in 2020: 5,300 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 3,600 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 32.9%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $104,040
2. Parking enforcement workers
Employment in 2020: 7,900 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 5,100 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 35%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $42,070
1. Word processors and typists
Employment in 2020: 45,200 jobs
Projected employment in 2030: 28,900 jobs
Projected job decline for 2020-2030: 36%
Median annual wage as of 2020: $41,050
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