Recent reports have indicated jobs are continuing to climb after the recession, but that’s not the case for all occupations—some are projected to decline in the coming decade, according to JIST’s recently released Occupational Outlook Handbook 2013–2014.
“Declining occupational employment stems from falling industry employment, technological advances, changes in business practices and other factors,” the OOH says. “Almost all of the occupations that are projected to decline the fastest fall into two occupational groups … the production occupational group … and the office and administrative support staff occupational group.”
Here are seven fast-declining occupations:
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
- Percent change: -53
- Number of new jobs added: -1,700
- Wages: $26,280
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors and Processing Machine Operators
- Percent change: -49
- Number of new jobs added: -68,900
- Wages: $53,080
Postal Service Clerks
- Percent change: -48
- Number of new jobs added: -31,600
- Wages: $53,100
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
- Percent change: -36
- Number of new jobs added: -2,100
- Wages: $38,970
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
- Percent change: -28
- Number of new jobs added: -6,800
- Wages: $60,300
Sewing Machine Operators
- Percent change: -26
- Number of new jobs added: -42,100
- Wages: $20,600
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
- Percent change: -23
- Number of new jobs added: -33,200
- Wages: $24,920
Source: JIST Publishing
