Disappearing Jobs

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says several jobs we find very, very familiar will be seriously reduced by 2034. What you’ll see — or should we say, not see — by that date is cashiers. The number of jobs lost will be around 313,000 — or 10% of the cashier workforce.

We’ve seen a serious reduction of cashiers between 2014 and 2025. The number of jobs fell from 1.3 million in 2014 to around 1 million last year. You’ve probably noticed this most in grocery store lanes where grocers and other outlets let you do your own checking out. In 2025 around 38% of grocery lanes were self-checkout.

You’ll also see a lot fewer — or maybe no more — office assistants, bookkeepers and data entry clerks. The BLS says there will be 36% fewer clerical typists and 27% fewer phone operators. Automation, software, and self-service technology will replace them.

Or putting it a different way — more of those hated phone trees that have you chasing your tail with hit this number or that, and with no prompts that actually fit why you’re calling.

But that’s an editorial opinion and not really part of this conversation.

Here’s the list of disappearing jobs:

1. Cashier

Jobs lost: 313,000

Average annual salary: $31,190

2. Office assistant

Jobs lost: 177,800

Average annual salary: $43,630

3. Customer service representative

Jobs lost: 153,700

Average annual salary: $42,830

4. Bookkeeper

Jobs lost: 94,300

Average annual salary: $49,210

5. Fast food cook

Jobs lost: 90,300

Average annual salary: $30,160

6. Retail supervisor

Jobs lost: 72,300

Average annual salary: $47,320

7. Inventory clerk

Jobs lost: 66,300

Average annual salary: $43,190

8. Bank teller

Jobs lost: 44,900

Average annual salary: $39,340

9. Data entry

Jobs lost: 36,700

Average annual salary: $39,850

10. Packer

Jobs lost: 32,200

Average annual salary: $35,580

11. Food preparation

Jobs lost: 30,900

Average annual salary: $35,580

12. Administrative assistant

Jobs lost: 30,800

Average annual salary: $46,290

13. Corrections officer

Jobs lost: 30,100

Average annual salary: $57,970

14. Childcare provider

Jobs lost: 29,200

Average annual salary: $32,050

15. Elementary school teacher

Jobs lost: 27,900

Average annual salary: $62,340

16. Payroll clerk

Jobs lost: 27,000

Average annual salary: $55,290

17. IT support

Jobs lost: 27,000

Average annual salary: $60,340

18. Machine operator

Jobs lost: 21,100

Average annual salary: $45,590

19. Teacher’s aide

Jobs lost: 21,100

Average annual salary: $35,240

20. Sales associate

Jobs lost: 19,600

Average annual salary: $34,580

Those are the categories. The link below will show you the numbers for specific job titles. For the insurance industry some of these apply.

1. Clerical typist — 36.1% of all jobs gone by 2034

3. Phone operator — 27.5% of all jobs gone by 2034

4. Receptionist/switchboard operator — 26.3% of all jobs gone by 2034

5. Data entry specialist — 25.9% of all jobs gone by 2034

9. Telemarketers — 22.1% of all jobs gone by 2034

19. Payroll clerk — 16.7% of all jobs gone by 2034

Source link: Visual Capitalist — https://bit.ly/425qfuj