Table 8. The 30 occupations with the largest projected employment declines, 2010-20
Table 8. The 30 occupations with the largest projected employment declines, 2010-20
(In thousands)
Occupation Occupational group Employment Change Pre-employment During employment
2010 2020 Number Percent Typical education needed Work experience in Typical on-the-job training(3)
for entry(1) a related
occupation(2)
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers Management Occupations 1,202.5 1,106.4 -96.1 -8.0 High school diploma or
equivalent More than 5 years None
Postal Service mail sorters, processors, and
processing machine operators Office and Administrative Support Occupations 142.0 73.0 -68.9 -48.5 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Sewing machine operators Production Occupations 163.2 121.1 -42.1 -25.8 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Postal Service mail carriers Office and Administrative Support Occupations 316.7 278.5 -38.1 -12.0 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Switchboard operators, including answering service Office and Administrative Support Occupations 142.5 109.3 -33.2 -23.3 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Postal Service clerks Office and Administrative Support Occupations 65.6 34.0 -31.6 -48.2 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Cooks, fast food Food Preparation and Serving Related
Occupations 530.4 511.4 -19.1 -3.6 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Miscellaneous agricultural workers Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations 746.4 727.3 -19.1 -2.6 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Data entry keyers Office and Administrative Support Occupations 234.7 218.8 -15.9 -6.8 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Word processors and typists Office and Administrative Support Occupations 115.3 102.1 -13.2 -11.5 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors,
and Related Workers Sales and Related Occupations 153.8 142.3 -11.5 -7.5 High school diploma
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Food Service Managers Management Occupations 320.6 310.0 -10.6 -3.3 High school diploma or
equivalent 1 to 5 years None
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers Production Occupations 182.9 172.4 -10.4 -5.7 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
File Clerks Office and Administrative Support Occupations 185.0 176.2 -8.8 -4.8 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Prepress Technicians and Workers Production Occupations 50.8 42.8 -8.1 -15.9 Postsecondary non-degree award None None
Computer Operators Office and Administrative Support Occupations 86.4 78.9 -7.4 -8.6 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents Management Occupations 24.5 17.7 -6.8 -27.8 High school diploma or
equivalent 1 to 5 years Moderate-term on-the-job training
Office Machine Operators, Except Computer Production Occupations 69.8 63.0 -6.8 -9.7 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials Office and Administrative Support Occupations 57.8 51.0 -6.8 -11.8 Less than high school None Short-term on-the-job training
Floral Designers Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Occupations 66.5 60.3 -6.2 -9.3 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators,
and Gaugers Production Occupations 44.2 38.0 -6.2 -14.0 High school diploma or
equivalent None Long-term on-the-job training
Loan Interviewers and Clerks Office and Administrative Support Occupations 182.5 176.8 -5.7 -3.1 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Production Occupations 90.9 85.3 -5.5 -6.1 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Chemical Plant and System Operators Production Occupations 43.3 38.0 -5.3 -12.2 High school diploma or
equivalent None Long-term on-the-job training
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine
Operators Production Occupations 58.7 54.2 -4.5 -7.7 High school diploma or
equivalent None Short-term on-the-job training
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters,
Operators, and Tenders Production Occupations 22.5 18.4 -4.1 -18.2 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Reporters and Correspondents Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Occupations 51.9 48.0 -3.9 -7.5 Bachelor's degree None None
Semiconductor Processors Production Occupations 21.1 17.3 -3.8 -17.9 Associate's degree None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine
Setters, Operators, and Tenders Production Occupations 29.0 25.4 -3.6 -12.4 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders Production Occupations 47.4 43.8 -3.5 -7.5 High school diploma or
equivalent None Moderate-term on-the-job training
1 Represents the typical education level needed to enter the occupation.
2 Indicates if work experience in a related occupation is commonly considered necessary by employers for entry, or is a commonly accepted substitute for formal types of training.
3 Indicates the typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation.
NOTE: For more information about the education, work experience, and on-the-job training categories assigned to occupations, see www.bls.gov/emp/ep_education_training_system.htm.