Changes in the way business, farming and manufacturing are conducted in our society have resulted in a significant reduction in certain types of jobs. This article will profile the 10 occupations expected to show the greatest decline in number of workers between the years 1996 and 2006, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
One caveat - just because an occupation is declining doesn't necessarily mean there will be no jobs available in that field. Some of the careers listed below are very large in number, and so there will continue to be openings. Still, the job categories discussed here will account for over 870,000 positions lost over this ten-year period.
Click on the links below for more information about the 10 occupations experiencing the greatest decline, and find out why they are decreasing:
1. Sewing Machine Operators: Down 120,000 workers*.
Most sewing machine operators are employed in the garment industry, which has lost thousands of domestic workers as more and more clothing assembly is being contracted overseas where labor costs are much lower. We consumers have taken a fancy to imported clothing, as well, and about half the apparel we purchase was sewn outside this country. Further, the garment industry, like all industry, is becoming more streamlined through the use of technological developments, such as computer-aided marking, grading, cutting, and handling. Because this is such a large occupation, however, thousands of job openings will continue to exist due to turnover.
2. Farmers: Down 117,000 workers.
Although the expanding world population demands an increasing supply of food, the powerful trend toward fewer and larger farms will continue. As in garment manufacturing, technological advancements in agriculture mean more efficient production with less manpower. Interestingly, however, the relatively new field of "aquaculture" - raising farm-bred fish and shellfish - is expected to provide increasing employment opportunities. Why? Overfishing has resulted in reduced seafood harvest, while the consumer demand is growing.
3. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks: Down 110,000 workers.
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), "Virtually all job openings for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks through the year 2006 will stem from replacement needs. . . A growing economy should result in more financial transactions and other activities and, therefore, more demand for accounting services. However, the continuing spread of office automation should result in increasing worker productivity. Organizations of all sizes are likely to continue the consolidation of various recordkeeping functions, thus reducing the demand for these clerks."
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