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- 10 Middle-Class Jobs That Are Disappearing the Fastest (cheapism.com)
The Changing Job Landscape: 10 Middle-Class Jobs Facing Decline
The evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are contributing to the obsolescence of many jobs, including a surprising number of middle-class professions. Many of these roles offer decent salaries and require only a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree. Here are ten middle-class jobs that may become increasingly scarce in the future:
- Word Processors and Typists: This profession is experiencing the most significant decline, with a 38% drop.
The rise of AI-powered transcription and recording tools, coupled with the decreasing reliance on secretaries, has significantly reduced the demand for these roles. The median salary for this high-school-level job is $46,450.
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: With the decreasing demand for paper goods, this industry faces a 13% decline, translating to a loss of nearly 12,000 jobs. These positions typically require a high school diploma and offer a median salary of $47,250.
- Adult Basic and Secondary Education and ESL Instructors: Funding challenges in education are impacting adult education programs, including ESL instruction.
This sector is projected to experience a 13% decline, resulting in approximately 5,300 fewer positions. These roles typically require a bachelor’s degree and offer a median salary of $60,560.
- Computer Programmers: While computer programming was once considered a secure career path, the emergence of AI is changing the demand.
Despite the continued need for many tech-related jobs, computer programming is seeing a 10% decline, equating to roughly 13,400 fewer jobs. The median salary for these roles, which often require a bachelor’s degree or coding bootcamp, is nearly $100,000.
- Gas Plant Operators: Responsible for monitoring gas processing and distribution plants, these positions offer a median salary of $82,560 and typically require a high school diploma. However, the industry is projected to decline by 10%, resulting in a loss of 1,600 jobs.
- Bill and Account Collectors: While this profession offers a median salary of $44,040 and requires only a high school diploma, it faces a 9% decline, with a projected loss of 18,600 jobs.
- Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers: This high-school-level job offers a six-figure median salary, making it an attractive option for those without a college degree. However, the field is projected to experience an 8% decline, resulting in nearly 4,000 job losses.
- Advertising Sales Agents: Responsible for selling various forms of advertising, these roles offer a median salary of $61,270 and typically require a high school diploma. However, the industry is experiencing a 7% decline, with a projected loss of 7,400 jobs.
- Office Clerks: Technological advancements are impacting entry-level office positions, as software solutions can automate many clerical tasks.
This field is facing a 6% annual decline, resulting in approximately 147,500 job losses. The median salary for these high-school-level roles is $40,480.
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers: Changes in consumer behavior following the COVID-19 pandemic, including a decrease in in-person shopping, are impacting retail jobs.
This profession is experiencing a 6% decline, with a projected loss of 91,000 jobs annually. These roles typically require a high school diploma and offer a median salary of $46,730.
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