With developing technology, a lot of professional careers are becoming obsolete. Many careers that were popular a decade ago just aren’t needed now in the same capacity they once were.
Telephone Switchboard Operator
A telephone switchboard operator’s responsibility is to answer and direct phone calls, a.k.a the person who answered when dialing 411. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job prospects for this profession are predicted to drop by 20 percent between 2010 and 2020. Phone operators aren’t needed anymore because it’s easier to just look up the company you want to call on Google, then press that company’s phone number to call them.
Postal Worker
Postal workers have been fading into obscurity since email became popular. Even though you don’t need a college degree, the BLS predicts that by 2024 there will be a 28 percent decrease in jobs. This is not only because of electronic mail but also because of automated sorting systems and tight budgets.
Jeweler
A jeweler’s main job is to set precious stones and gems in rings. They also design, repair and appraise jewelry. The median annual salary for this career is $38,200, and you don’t even need a college degree, just a high school diploma and some training. One of the reasons why this job is losing traction in the U.S. is because a lot of the work that jewelers do are going overseas. The BLS predicts an 11 percent decline by 2024.
Travel Agent
Travel agents have been around for many years to help people find the best rates for their vacations. Recently, with websites like Kayak.com or Expedia, travel agents aren’t needed anymore. This is another job that you only need a high school diploma for, and the median wage is $36,460 a year. Unfortunately, the BSL states that there will be a 12 percent decline by 2024.
Mortgage Broker
Mortgage brokers find banks or direct lenders that are willing to make a specific loan that a person is seeking. During the Great Recession, the number of mortgage brokers dropped by 80 percent, while the remaining 20 percent experienced a salary decrease of 30 percent. The profession never really got a chance to recover because of online brokers like Rocket Mortgage and Guaranteed Rate.
The popularity of the internet plays a common theme between these jobs. For a lot of these professions, it’s easy for people to just use the internet to look up to what they need. While these jobs are depleting, there are more jobs that are opening up for students looking for careers, like engineers and a lot of careers in the medical field.
