Vanishing Trades: 18 Careers on the Brink of Extinction
Have you ever wondered what jobs might be on their endgame? As our world evolves, so does the job market. Some careers are flourishing, while others seem to be fading into oblivion.
It’s a bit like a real-life game of musical chairs, right? But which ones are nearing their final chapter?
In this article, we’ll explore 18 careers slowly approaching their end.
This one’s for you, whether you’re job hunting, considering a career change, or just curious about the changing job landscape.
1. Newspaper Delivery Person
The role of the newspaper delivery person is becoming obsolete mainly due to digital media. More and more people are getting their news online through websites, social media, or news apps.
This shift towards digital consumption reduces the demand for physical newspapers. As a result, there’s less need for people to deliver these papers door-to-door.
The job isn’t completely gone yet, but it’s on its way out as we embrace the digital age.
2. Elevator Operators
We don’t see elevator operators very often these days, do we? With self-service elevators now the norm, it’s no wonder that elevator operators are becoming a thing of the past.
It’s not a job that requires a lot of skill or education, so it’s no surprise that companies are choosing to automate this role.
As we advance technologically, even more jobs like this will likely be replaced by machines. So, it won’t be long before we say goodbye to elevator operators for good.
3. Typists
The role of typists is dwindling due to technological advancements. Today, most people can type quickly and accurately independently, thanks to computer and keyboard skills taught at a young age.
Plus, voice recognition software is becoming more reliable, allowing us to dictate instead of type.
With these developments, the need for professional typists is decreasing. This job might not altogether disappear anytime soon, but it’s certainly seen less demand in recent years.
4. Postal Workers
This is the era of emails, social media, and messaging apps. With so much digital communication happening, the need for postal workers has significantly decreased.
Many postal services are struggling to stay afloat, with some even shutting down completely. As we move forward, this job is likely to become even less relevant in the modern world.
But it used to be a highly sought-after job with good pay and benefits. This is a clear reminder of how quickly the job landscape can change in just a few decades.
5. Loco Pilots
These days, even cars run by themselves, so it’s no surprise that the same is happening with trains.
Enter loco pilots – the people who operate and drive trains. With technological advancements, many trains now have automated systems that can control speed and direction, making loco pilots’ roles less essential.
As we continue to innovate and improve transportation technology, the railway industry is likely to see even more automation.
6. Cashiers
Cashiers’ jobs are fading because of self-service checkouts and online shopping. Many stores now have machines where customers can scan and pay for their items themselves, reducing the need for cashiers.
Online shopping also means fewer people are buying things in physical stores – so fewer cashiers are needed. As technology improves, this trend will continue, making the cashier job less common.
7. Telemarketers
Next up is a job that has seen a significant decline in recent years – telemarketers. With the rise of online shopping and digital marketing, cold calling customers has become less effective and more intrusive.
Nowadays, People feel annoyed and frustrated when they receive unsolicited phone calls, making it more challenging for telemarketers to do their jobs successfully.
In addition to this shift in customer behavior, technological advancements have also made it easier for businesses to reach customers through targeted online ads and email marketing.
So soon enough, we may see the role of telemarketers disappear entirely.
8. Mail Sorters
Mail sorters are becoming less needed due to the rise of automation and the decline in paper mail. More and more people use digital methods to communicate, pay bills, and send documents.
This reduces the need for physical mail – at the same time, mail processing machines have become more reliable, doing the sorting work faster and more accurately.
These changes mean fewer mail sorters are needed, leading to a decrease in this job.
9. Bank Tellers
No thanks to technology again, the job of bank tellers is becoming less relevant.
With the rise of online banking and mobile banking apps, more and more people now prefer to manage their finances digitally rather than going into a physical branch.
This trend has resulted in fewer customers entering banks, reducing the need for bank tellers.
In addition, many banks have implemented ATMs that can handle most of the tasks previously done by tellers, such as cash deposits and withdrawals.
10. Textile Workers
Nowadays, machines and robots do most of the jobs in textile factories, decreasing the demand for textile workers.
Automation has made it faster and more cost-effective to produce textiles, reducing the need for manual labor.
Furthermore, as technology advances, machines are becoming more sophisticated and can now handle tasks that humans previously did.
11. Photo Processors
The job of Photo Processors is becoming less common due to digital photography. Most people now use digital cameras or smartphones to take pictures. These photos can be viewed instantly and shared online without needing development.
Even professional photographers often use digital methods. This means fewer people are using film cameras, and fewer photos need processing. As a result, the need for Photo Processors is rapidly declining.
12. Door-to-Door Salespeople
As we mentioned, online shopping has taken over the traditional method of going to physical stores and interacting with salespeople.
This shift has also affected door-to-door salespeople, who used to sell various products and services from house to house.
Nowadays, people can easily find what they need online without the need for someone to come knocking on their door.
This job is about to go extinct due to changes in consumer behavior and the rise of e-commerce.
13. Taxi Drivers
The job of taxi drivers is becoming less common because of ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft. These apps let people use their cars to give rides, which is often cheaper and more convenient than traditional taxis.
Self-driving cars are becoming more common. In the future, these could completely replace taxi drivers. These changes mean fewer taxi drivers are needed, leading to a decrease in this job.
14. Engine and Machine Assemblers
Just like textile workers, engine and machine assemblers are also facing decreased demand for their jobs. Automation has made it possible for machines to be assembled by robots, which is faster and more accurate than humans.
This trend is expected to continue as technology advances, resulting in a decline in the need for manual labor in this field. So sooner or later, we can also say goodbye to engine and machine assemblers.
15. Data Entry Clerks
AI and automation have also affected the job market for data entry clerks. With more advanced systems, companies can now input and organize their data automatically without requiring human workers to do it manually.
These tools are more accurate and faster, making data entry clerks less essential for businesses. It is predicted that the demand for this job will decrease in the coming years.
16. Translators
If you want to translate something, you just paste the text into Google Translate and choose the desired language—it’s that easy nowadays.
Although professional translators will always be needed in certain situations, AI translation tools are becoming more advanced and efficient.
This can lead to a decrease in demand for human translators as businesses and individuals opt for cheaper and quicker options.
17. Retail Salespersons
Retail salespersons’ jobs are becoming less common due to online shopping. More people are buying products online, so fewer physical stores are needed—this means fewer retail salespersons are required.
Also, some stores use self-service checkouts or AI tools to help customers. These changes are leading to a decrease in the need for retail salespersons.
18. Librarians
Sadly, people don’t go to libraries as they used to. With the rise of e-books and digital resources, fewer people are borrowing physical books from libraries.
So it’s only a matter of time before libraries become fully automated, with robots sorting and organizing books and AI systems managing the borrowing process.
Librarian jobs will become in less demand, and the role may evolve into more of a technological and customer service support position.
Find Some Good Future Proof Jobs
So there you have it! If you are looking for a job, you should avoid these jobs as they are not future-proof. However, they are still in demand, but the trend is moving towards automation and AI. You have to adapt to the changing job market and be open to learning new skills to stay relevant. Good luck!
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