Jobs That May No Longer Exist by 2014
Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

While America's job outlook is healthy and many industries are projected to grow in the coming years, there are also signs that some occupations are becoming obsolete.

The majority of the decreases are in office and administrative support and production occupations, which are affected by the implementation of office technology that reduces the needs for these workers, changes in business practices, and escalating plant and factory automation. A majority of the job openings occurring in these occupations will arise not from job growth, but from the need to replace those who transfer to other industries, retire or leave for other reasons

Here are some of the jobs expected to severely decline between now and 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Farmers and Ranchers
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 155,000
Why they're endangered: The long-term trend toward consolidation of farms into fewer and larger farms is expected to continue displacing small independent farmers.

Stock Clerks and Order Fillers
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 115,000
Why they're endangered: The growing use of computers for inventory control and the installation of new, automated equipment are expected to inhibit growth in demand for stock clerks and order fillers, especially in manufacturing and wholesale trade industries, where operations are most easily automated.

Sewing Machine Operators
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 93,000
Why they're endangered: Increasing imports, the use of offshore assembly and greater productivity through new automation will contribute to additional job losses.

Mail Clerks and Mail-Machine Operators
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 59,000
Why they're endangered: The demand for such clerks will be offset by the use of electronic communications technologies and private delivery companies.

Computer Operators
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 49,000
Why they're endangered: Advances in technology have reduced both the size and cost of computer equipment while increasing the capacity for data storage and processing automation, making systems more user-friendly and greatly reducing the need for operators.

Secretaries (Except Legal, Medical and Executive)
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 48,000
Why they're endangered: Automated equipment is changing the distribution of work in many offices. Professionals and managers increasingly do their own word processing and data entry, and handle much of their own correspondence rather than submitting the work to secretaries and other support staff.

Telemarketers
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 42,000
Why they're endangered: Telemarketers' employment will decrease as more people opt out of receiving telephone calls and as blocking technology improves.

Meter Readers
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 22,000
Why they're endangered: Advances in computer, optical-scanning and voice recognition technologies and growth in automated, electronic business processes will reduce demand.

Parts Salespeople
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 16,000
Why they're endangered: Electronic commerce ordering and reordering systems should automate much of the work of many parts salespersons.

Telephone Operators
How many jobs are in jeopardy: 14,000
Why they're endangered: Developments in communications technologies -- particularly voice recognition systems -- will continue to have a significant impact, and electronic communication through the Internet or e-mail provides alternatives to telephone communication and requires no operators.

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Copyright 2006 CareerBuilder.com.

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