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Outdated Occupations: 15 Dying Professions That Aren’t Worth Pursuing

Outdated Occupations: 15 Dying Professions That Aren’t Worth Pursuing
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candidates sitting on chairs waiting for job interview

By Jenny CohenEdited By Andrea Basse

While some jobs show signs of growth in the future, more and more professions are starting to die. 

Whether because a specific industry is changing dramatically or part of a job is being replaced by automation, those looking for new careers should be mindful of the employment outlook.

If you’re trying to stop living paycheck to paycheck and want a more secure financial future, here are 14 professions you should avoid.

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1. Factory workers

Robots have already replaced some factory jobs, even as simple as moving a box from one area to another. 

This means there’s potential for machines to take over jobs, particularly those that might be considered dangerous to human workers.

However, replacement rates might not be as high as we think. A 2022 study by Brigham Young University found that 14% of workers surveyed had their jobs replaced by robots, but those workers tended to exaggerate the rate at which they're being replaced.

2. Travel agents

Travel agents can be a great asset when you need someone to help you plan an all-inclusive vacation to an area you might not be familiar with.

However, algorithms are becoming savvier, and sometimes all a traveler needs to do before a trip is a quick search online to discover what’s available at a particular destination. 

Many travel sites also take advantage of ChatGPT through virtual assistants who can help customers answer questions about airfare or accommodations.

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3. Reporters

The news industry as a whole has seen rounds of layoffs in recent years in part because advertising and subscription revenue has dried up for newspapers and other forms of media.

The Pew Research Center found that newsrooms have lost more than 25% of their workforce since 2008, and news organizations like CNN and BuzzFeed have made major cuts in the past year or so.

As layoffs become more and more expected in the news industry, it’s becoming clear that reporters may have fewer job opportunities.

4. Administrative assistants

Executives rely on administrative assistants to schedule appointments, take notes, and plan travel arrangements. Previously, many executives expected someone to be by their side to do all of this, but remote work has changed the landscape.

A virtual administrative assistant, for instance, can help an executive from anywhere in the world. This also means that someone can potentially serve as an assistant for more than one executive, meaning there could be more supply than demand for the role.

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