- Economic trends like AI and globalization are changing the jobs landscape in the US.
- Using employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Insider found 41 jobs that are predicted to have much lower levels of employment in 2026 than they did in 2016.
- Jobs that are quickly disappearing in the US range from metal workers to executive assistants.
With the rise of robots and AI, as well as ongoing economic changes from globalization, jobs from data entry to manufacturing are under threat in the US.
Here are 41 jobs that could be on their way out in the US, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projections for the percent decline in the number of people in these occupations between 2016 and 2026, along with descriptions of the jobs from the Department of Labor’s O*NET careers database:
41. Molding, core making, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders (metal and plastic)
They operate machinery that molds or casts metal or plastic parts and products.
Median annual pay, 2017: $31,090
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 145,400
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 123,600
Projected decline: 15.0%
40. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders (metal and plastic)
They set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Median annual pay, 2017:$34,600
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 72,300
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 61,300
Projected decline: 15.2%
39. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
They fabricate and fit parts of structural metal products.
Median annual pay, 2017: $38,450
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 77,000
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 65,200
Projected decline: 15.3%
38. Patternmakers (metal and plastic)
They lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.
Median annual pay, 2017:$45,030
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 3,400
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 2,900
Projected decline: 15.5%
37. Office machine operators, except computer
They operate office machinery, such as photocopiers and printers.
Median annual pay, 2017: $31,360
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 59,900
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 50,500
Projected decline: 15.6%
36. Textile cutting-machine setters, operators, and tenders
They set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
Median annual pay, 2017:$26,890
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 15,000
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 12,600
Projected decline: 15.8%
35. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
Patternmakers draw and construct sets of precision master-fabric patterns or layouts, and they may also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
Median annual pay, 2017:$40,460
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 5,500
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 4,600
Projected decline: 16.1%
34. Fallers
Fallers use axes or chainsaws to chop down trees.
Median annual pay, 2017: $40,690
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 7,500
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 6,300
Projected decline: 16.2%
33. Postal-service mail sorters, processors, and processing-machine operators
They prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution.
Median annual pay, 2017:$57,260
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 106,700
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 89,100
Projected decline: 16.5%
32. Sewing-machine operators
They operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
Median annual pay, 2017:$24,320
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 153,900
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 128,200
Projected decline: 16.7%
31. Textile-winding, twisting, and drawing-out machine setters, operators, and tenders
They set up, operate, or tend machines that wind or twist textiles.
Median annual pay, 2017:$28,270
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 30,800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 25,600
Projected decline: 16.8%
30. Engine and other machine assemblers
They construct, assemble, or rebuild machines, such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment
Median annual pay, 2017: $43,390
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 38,000
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 31,500
Projected decline: 17.2%
28 (tie). Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
They provide high-level administrative support by doing research, preparing reports, and performing clerical functions.
Median annual pay, 2017: $57,410
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 685,300
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 566,200
Projected decline: 17.4%
28 (tie). Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
They assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles.
Median annual pay, 2017: $53,510
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 41,800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 34,500
Projected decline: 17.4%
26 (tie). Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders
They operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.
Median annual pay, 2017:$28,280
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 11,300
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 9,200
Projected decline: 18.1%
26 (tie). Photographic-process workers and processing-machine operators
They perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media.
Median annual pay, 2017:$27,480
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 26,900
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 22,000
Projected decline: 18.1%
25. Legal secretaries
Legal secretaries perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents.
Median annual pay, 2017: $44,730
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 194,700
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 157,500
Projected decline: 19.1%
24. Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders (metal and plastic)
They set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
Median annual pay, 2017: $38,650
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 19,200
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 15,500
Projected decline: 19.2%
22 (tie). Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders (metal and plastic)
They operate machines to mill and plane metal and plastic parts.
Median annual pay, 2017: $42,650
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 17,600
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 14,200
Projected decline: 19.3%
22 (tie). Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders
They set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.
Median annual pay, 2017: $27,960
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 22,200
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 17,900
Projected decline: 19.3%
21. Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders (metal and plastic)
They operate machines that drill and bore metal and plastic pieces.
Median annual pay, 2017: $37,270
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 12,300
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 9,900
Projected decline: 19.5%
19 (tie). Switchboard operators, including answering service
They operate telephone business-systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls.
Median annual pay, 2017:$28,700
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 93,200
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 74,700
Projected decline: 19.9%
19 (tie). Prepress technicians and workers
They format and proof text and images submitted by authors, designers, and clients into finished pages that can be printed.
Median annual pay, 2017: $39,910
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 34,600
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 27,700
Projected decline: 19.9%
18. Timing device assemblers and adjusters
They assemble and calibrate devices like digital clocks and electronic timers.
Median annual pay, 2017: $34,800
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 600
Projected decline: 20.1%
17. Grinding and polishing workers, hand
They grind, sand, or polish objects using hand tools or hand-held power tools.
Median annual pay, 2017: $28,830
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 26,600
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 21,100
Projected decline: 20.5%
16. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers
They wind wire coils used in electrical equipment.
Median annual pay, 2017: $33,310
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 14,100
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 11,200
Projected decline: 20.7%
15. Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers
They assemble or modify electrical or electronic equipment.
Median annual pay, 2017: *
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 218,900
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 173,300
Projected decline: 20.8%
*The BLS did not include median annual wage data for this occupation.
14. Postmasters and mail superintendents
They plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and supportive services of a US post office, or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in an assigned post office.
Median annual pay, 2017:$74,840
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 14,200
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 11,200
Projected decline: 20.9%
13. Data entry keyers
Data entry keyers type or otherwise put data into computer systems.
Median annual pay, 2017: $30,930
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 203,800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 160,600
Projected decline: 21.2%
12. Electromechanical equipment assemblers
They assemble or modify electromechanical equipment.
Median annual pay, 2017: *
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 45,700
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 35,900
Projected decline: 21.4%
*The BLS did not include median annual wage data for this occupation.
11. Mine shuttle car operators
They operate shuttle cars in mines to transport materials between the working mine face and a conveyor or mine train car.
Median annual pay, 2017: $56,890
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 1,500
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 1,200
Projected decline: 21.9%
10. Telephone operators
They provide information to telephone customers by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories.
Median annual pay, 2017:$36,320
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 9,100
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 7,000
Projected decline: 22.6%
9. Computer operators
Computer operators monitor and control electronic computer and peripheral electronic data processing equipment.
Median annual pay, 2017: $44,270
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 51,500
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 39,700
Projected decline: 22.8%
8. Pourers and casters (metal)
They operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
Median annual pay, 2017:$38,210
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 8,400
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 6,500
Projected decline: 23.4%
7. Foundry mold and core makers
They make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.
Median annual pay, 2017: $35,140
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 12,500
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 9,500
Projected decline: 24.0%
6. Electronic-equipment installers and repairers (motor vehicles)
They install, diagnose, or repair communications, sound, security, or navigation equipment in motor vehicles.
Median annual pay, 2017:$34,530
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 12,100
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 9,000
Projected decline: 25.6%
5. Watch repairers
They repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks.
Median annual pay, 2017:$35,770
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 1,800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 1,200
Projected decline: 29.7%
4. Word processors and typists
They use computers, word processors, or typewriters to type letters, forms, reports, or other material.
Median annual pay, 2017: $39,740
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 74,900
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 50,100
Projected decline: 33.1%
3. Parking enforcement workers
They patrol assigned areas to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.
Median annual pay, 2017: $39,030
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 9,400
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 6,100
Projected decline: 35.3%
2. Respiratory therapy technicians
They provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.
Median annual pay, 2017: $50,350
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 10,800
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 4,700
Projected decline: 56.3%
1. Locomotive firers
They monitor locomotive instruments and watch for dragging equipment, obstacles on rights-of-way, and train signals during run.
Median annual pay, 2017:$60,360
Number of people who held this job in the US in 2016: 1,200
Predicted number of people who will hold this job in 2026: 300
Projected decline: 78.6%
This post has been updated with the most recently available data. Jacquelyn Smith contributed to an earlier version of this post.