A Look Ahead: 20 Jobs Eliminated and 20 That May Disappear in the Next Two Decades

20 Jobs Eliminated in the Last 20 Years

AI could replace up to 85,000,000 jobs by 2025. But it could also create around 97,000,000 jobs as well, according to Leila Harmozi, the CEO of Acquisition.com, and the World Economic Forum.

I’ve been a telemarketer and a cashier in a past life. I also delivered newspapers. Throwing them onto driveways and porches at 4 a.m. in the morning as a side gig many years ago before I went to my “real Job”, and I’m here to tell you, I’m perfectly happy to see each and every one of these jobs disappear, but I’m sure there are some who see these jobs as a great entry point for teenagers and young adults to get into the workforce. Luckily for all of us, the rapid advancement of technology has led to the elimination of these boring and monotonous jobs over the past two decades, making way for new and more important work. Here’s a look at 20 jobs that are mostly gone:

1. Travel Agents: Online booking platforms have made traditional travel agents obsolete.
2. Video Store Clerks: Streaming services have replaced video rental stores.
3. Newspaper Delivery: Digital news has reduced the need for physical paper delivery.
4. Bank Tellers: ATMs and online banking have reduced the need for human tellers.
5. Factory Workers: Automation and robotics have replaced many manufacturing jobs.
6. Switchboard Operators: Modern telecommunication has made this job redundant.
7. Photo Lab Technicians: Digital photography has eliminated the need for film development.
8. Telemarketers: Automated systems have replaced human telemarketers.
9. Toll Booth Operators: Electronic toll collection systems have made this job obsolete.
10. Typists: Voice recognition and word processing software have replaced manual typing.
11. Meter Readers: Smart meters have automated this task.
12. Cashiers: Self-checkout machines have reduced the need for human cashiers.
13. Library Assistants: Digital catalogs and self-service kiosks have replaced many library roles.
14. Assembly Line Workers: Robotics have taken over many assembly line tasks.
15. Data Entry Clerks: Automation and OCR technology have replaced manual data entry.
16. Parking Attendants: Automated parking systems have made this job unnecessary.
17. Film Projectionists: Digital projection has replaced traditional film projection.
18. Mail Sorters: Automated sorting machines have taken over this task.
19. Textile Workers: Automated looms and knitting machines have replaced human labor.
20. Printers and Publishers: Digital publishing has reduced the need for traditional printing.

20 Jobs That Might Be Eliminated in the Next 20 Years

As technology continues to evolve, we can expect further changes in the job market. Here are 20 jobs that might be eliminated in the next 20 years:

1. Truck Drivers: Autonomous vehicles may replace human drivers.
2. Customer Service Representatives: AI chatbots could take over customer service roles.
3. Fast Food Workers: Automation may replace human workers in fast food preparation.
4. Construction Workers: Robotics could take over many construction tasks.
5. Retail Salespersons: Virtual shopping and automation may reduce the need for in-store staff.
6. Translators: AI-driven translation tools might replace human translators.
7. Farm Workers: Automated farming equipment could replace human labor.
8. Security Guards: Surveillance technology and drones might replace human security.
9. Medical Diagnosticians: AI could take over initial medical diagnosis.
10. Bookkeepers: Automation may replace human bookkeeping.
11. Postal Workers: Drones and automated delivery systems might replace human postal workers.
12. Legal Assistants: AI-driven legal research tools could replace human assistants.
13. Mining Workers: Automation may replace human labor in mining.
14. Real Estate Agents: Virtual tours and AI-driven platforms might replace traditional agents.
15. Taxi Drivers: Autonomous vehicles could replace human taxi drivers.
16. Hotel Concierges: AI-driven services might replace human concierges.
17. Pharmacists: Automation may replace human pharmacists for dispensing medications.
18. Home Cleaners: Robotic cleaning devices might replace human cleaners.
19. Inspectors: Drones and AI-driven inspection tools could replace human inspectors.
20. Journalists: AI-driven content creation might replace some human journalism roles.

The Challenge

Check out 30 Fast Side Hustles That Can Pay Next Moth’s Rent, because the landscape of employment is ever-changing, and technology plays a significant role in shaping the future of work. While some jobs become obsolete, new opportunities arise, requiring adaptability and continuous learning. The challenge for society will be to ensure that workers displaced by technology can find new paths in an evolving job market.