Whether automation makes a position obsolete or robots actually do take the work, some jobs that are common today probably won’t exist in ten years.
Jobs being phased out is a big concern for those who are thinking about retirement; individuals who are in later years of careers might not have time to make a major change before retirement. Check out this list to see if your job is going the way of the dinosaurs so you can prepare for a new position or alternative income in the future. If you’re close to retirement and find your job on this list, it could be time to check the retirement calculators and find out how much more you need to save to live comfortably in later years.
Photo Lab Clerks
While someone still has to man the photo desk at your local pharmacy, photo-processing labs are almost obsolete today. Digital photography has obliterated the market for one-hour photo development, and those that rely on old-fashioned film often develop their own photographs. As the world trends more to digital photography, the few printed pictures can be handled by online processes, kiosks, and automated machinery.
Data Entry Workers
Data keyers are already a dying breed in professional circles. Most companies have already implemented some level of automation to replace these workers, and computer capabilities make this automation easier and more cost-effective every year.
Cashiers
Retail cashiers face threats on several sides. First, e-Commerce solutions mean less people are walking into storefronts, reducing the number of cashiers required at a given time. Even stores such as Wal-Mart rarely run a full cashier staff. At the same time, digital and self-check out kiosks further reduce the need for workers. Today, one cashier can handle six or more self-check out stations, and in the future, even that function might be computerized.
Telemarketer
Experts predict that telemarketer jobs will dry up, particularly in the developed world, as online marketing and computerized calling takes over.
Newspaper Deliverer
Printed media in general is in trouble as it faces an ongoing onslaught from digital competition. With less people subscribing to print media, delivery routes shrink along with circulation numbers. Experts have predicted eventual print-media extinction for years; while the demise is slow in coming, experts still believe all print newspaper careers are in their swan songs.
Typist or Transcriptionist
From 2002 to 2012, typist jobs in the United States dropped by 54 percent according to a report from USA Today. That trend hasn’t slowed in the last few years. Both OCR imaging and text-to-speech capabilities make it possible to translate spoken or written word to typed documents automatically. While traditional typists won’t be around in ten years, people will probably still be part of the process in editing automated documents.
Switchboard Operators or Receptionists
A decade from now, companies might still have a welcoming face out front, but getting that in-person welcome on the phone is unlikely. Automated telephone systems make it possible to answer and route calls without human intervention. Automated systems might be annoying to consumers, but the cost savings involved is so great, companies are probably going to keep using them.
Social Media Manager
While social media management is a career in its infancy, experts don’t believe it will live to see the golden years. Experts say that younger generations have grown up with social media, and computer capabilities are going to make that media such an intrinsic part of daily life, businesses won’t need to hire someone to manage the process.
While many of these careers are likely to be obsolete after another decade, many of them require skills that are transferable. Knowing now how your position will fare in the future lets you make decisions about learning new skills so you can continue working or investing for possible early retirement.
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FAQ
Q: How are data entry jobs being affected by technology?
A: Automation and sophisticated software are increasingly handling tasks previously done by data entry workers, reducing the demand for these roles.
Q: Why might the role of social media managers become obsolete?
A: The automation of social media tasks through advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence is expected to reduce the need for human social media managers.
Q: Why are photo lab clerk jobs likely to disappear?
A: Advances in digital photography and smartphone technology are making traditional photo development less relevant, leading to a decline in the need for photo lab clerks.
