Two years ago, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that overall employment would increase 14.8 percent by 2020; the latest projection is 10.8 percent growth by 2022. “When they made those rosier projections, they didn’t realize how slow this rebound was going to be,” says labor force expert Laurence Shatkin.
We’ve identified struggling professions that you might want to think twice about entering. All are shedding positions, most are saddled with average pay and many come with high stress, based on such factors as time pressure and having to deal with unpleasant people.
To help, we’ve identified viable career alternatives that promise brighter futures.
Data entry clerk
” Total number of U.S. workers: 207,660
” 10-year growth projection: -24.6 percent
Another casualty of the digital age, data entry clerks, who typically enter print information into computer databases, are losing their usefulness as more data is being collected already in electronic form.
DO THIS INSTEAD: Transfer your precise recordkeeping skills to the booming health care field and become a health information technician. You’ll be charged with organizing and managing medical records in both paper and electronic forms. To get started, you need more education — a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree — than would be required to do more simple data entry. But you’ll enjoy more prospects, with the number of positions growing 22.1 percent.
Floral designer
” Total number of U.S. workers: 46,490
” 10-year growth projection: -8.0 percent
If your heart is set on a floral-focused future, look for a position with a grocery store, where demand for floral designers is expected to grow by 7 percent; employment in stand-alone flower shops is projected to fall by 22 percent.
DO THIS INSTEAD: Try applying your keen eye for design to merchandise displays inside shops, in store windows and at trade shows. You’ll likely have to arrange more than flowers, but you’ll be in higher demand — these positions are projected to increase by 10.1 percent by 2022.
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Ticket agent
” Total number of U.S. workers: 141,900
” 10-year growth projection: -14.0 percent
Ticket agents at airports, railroad depots and bus stations often absorb the brunt of travelers’ frustrations. These workers report one of the highest stress levels on this list, mostly related to having to accept criticism, deal with angry people and handle time pressures.
Adding to their stress, the need for ticket agents is dwindling due to advances in technology. Travelers can now book their own tickets online, print itineraries and boarding passes at home (or download them to mobile devices), and check in at self-service kiosks.
DO THIS INSTEAD: Hotel desk clerks are expected to add 31,800 new positions by 2022. Like ticket agents, they take and confirm reservations, but they also provide many more services, including assigning rooms, processing payments and handling guests’ requests — tasks less likely to be automated.
Office/administrative support
” Total number of U.S. workers: 66,840
” 10-year growth projection: -10.2 percent
Overall, office and administrative support occupations are expected to grow 6.8 percent, but several positions that require less skill and training have landed near the bottom of job rankings. Office machine operators, who handle photocopying, scanning, shredding and other similar tasks, are among the unlucky ones. “As more and more paper documents are replaced by electronic documents, these tasks lose importance and the workers who do them are less necessary,” says Shatkin.
DO THIS INSTEAD: Add to your administrative skill set and you can do much better as a secretary/administrative assistant. On top of operating office machines, some of your duties might include answering phones and arranging meetings. You can expect 307,800 new opportunities, or 13.2 percent more, by 2022.
Reporter/correspondent
” Total number of U.S. workers: 43,630
” 10-year growth projection: -13.8 percent
Digital consumption of news continues to pressure newspaper and magazine publishers, as well as TV and radio broadcasters.
DO THIS INSTEAD: Love journalism? Stay the course. “There’s always going to be a need for people who are passionate about reporting stories on their local communities and on the state and national level,” says Chris Ariens with Mediabistro.com. But be multi-faceted. Expand beyond being an inquisitive reporter and learn skills such as basic coding or videography. “That’s going to make you much more valuable to a publisher,” says Ariens.
Otherwise, try to pick up a gig in public relations. As a PR specialist, you’d still be in media and communications, but you’d be in much higher demand (projected job growth is 12.0 percent) and potentially earn more.
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