Adapting to the world changing around you is a core part of human life. You don’t necessarily have to like those changes all that much. But if you want to survive and thrive, you have to be somewhat flexible. Enter—stage left—your career. The odds are that your current workflow is going to shift a ton in the near future due to changes in technology. Meanwhile, you might even find that your job, as a concept, goes extinct because the demand plummets.
It’s a part of life. And you’re not the first to feel anxious. In a viral online thread, the older professionals of Reddit spilled the beans about what jobs have pretty much vanished in their lifetimes, from telephone and elevator operators to ice and milk delivery people. Scroll down to read their experiences, Pandas. Oh, and be sure to tell your careers not to worry—it’s important never to panic.
Bored Panda got in touch with Jaime-Alexis Fowler, the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization Empower Work, for her thoughts about the future of work and how to respond to change. Meanwhile, we also reached out to u/tshirtguy2000, who sparked the interesting online thread, for their insights. You'll find both of our interviews as you scroll down.
#1
Today it's hard to believe there was a need for elevator operators. But they weren't always automated. I remember growing up in the 50's, and what few buildings in our town had elevators, there was always an operator. A New York city operator strike in the 40's led manufacturers to create the elevators we have today.
Image credits: ReticentGuru
Research shows that the rise and spread of generative artificial intelligence tools is going to have a large impact on the global economy. However, it’s unclear how extensive that impact will be. Some researchers believe that how we work will fundamentally change and are ringing the alarm bells. Others are more grounded and think that new and previously unheard-of job opportunities will replace (at least some of) those that fall by the wayside.
The Guardian reports that AI may displace between 1 and 3 million private sector jobs in the United Kingdom, based on research done by the Tony Blair Institute, a think tank. According to the Institute, you might see between 60k and 275k British jobs displaced every year, over the next couple of decades, as the peak of the disruption.
However, the “ultimate rise in unemployment will be in the low hundreds of thousands as growth in the technology also creates new roles.” Currently, over 33 million people are employed in the UK. The country is the 6th largest economy globally, by GDP.
#2
Telephone operators.
aprehensivebad42:
Image credits: Shelby-Stylo
#3
Gas station attendant, as in Pumps your Gas for you, washes the windshield, checks your fluids and performs minor repairs (ie.. Brake Lamps, Headlamps, Belts, Battery, etc...) (I was one and it was hectic at times but, overall a fun job).
Image credits: Keveros
On the other hand, the International Monetary Fund warned that AI might affect almost 40% of all jobs, globally. A poll by Adecco Group and Oxford Economics, looking at the opinions of executives, found something similar. 41% of the respondents said that they expect to employ fewer people due to AI.
Goldman Sachs sees things slightly differently. It predicts that 18% of global work could become automated due to generative AI, somewhat ironically affecting advanced economies the most. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum believes that most digitization and automation-related job losses will occur in administrative, clerical, secretarial, factory, and commerce roles.
We asked Fowler about the 'soft' skills that all employees can develop, irrespective of their career paths. "Skills that are uniquely human and connective will always have value," the founder of Empower Work told Bored Panda in an email.
"For example, the ability to listen deeply, ask powerful questions, and collaborate across differences are fundamentals of human interaction that can apply to tough problem solving or interpersonal challenges."
#4
Delivery of Telephone books. I remember those big thick things being dropped on our doorstep.
Wirejack
Image credits: Excellent_Berry_5115
#5
Almost every job in the printing industry. Type setters, strippers, pressmen, etc. 1 in 5 jobs was associated with the printing industry at one point. Former paper salesman here. I watched it fade.
Image credits: IGotRoks
#6
Rag & Bone man (UK) would collect old clothes/ small items or bric a brac to recycle. Always a horse drawn flat back wagon
Coal man, the same as above by horse and full of sacks of coal
Chimney sweep, to clean out all the open fire hearths and chimneys.
Image credits: jlelvidge
According to Fowler, it's normal to feel anxious amidst many unknowns. "Worry is a natural human emotion and can be a signal for us to pay attention. The question is how to use that signal in ways that move us forward. For those who are feeling concerned about changes in their jobs, industries, and more, spending time reflecting on skills you have, areas you may need to grow, and getting support to think through areas you may be missing can be important," she said.
"There are great platforms like SkillUp where you can look at different career pathways or resources like Empower Work where you can chat with a trained peer counselor. The one known is that there will be change—and what we have control over is how we respond to it," Fowler suggested. If you face challenges at work and need support, you can visit the Empower Work website or contact their text line at 510-674-1414.
#7
Toll collectors. There used to be manned booths on the PA turnpike, but that's completely disappeared.
Ill-Vermicelli-1684
Image credits: cshazan
#8
TV repairman (and yes, it was always a man).
Wards_Cleaver
Image credits: AnnaBaptist79
#9
VCR repair tech.
ehbowen
Image credits: Latin_For_King
Meanwhile, Bored Panda also got in touch with redditor u/tshirtguy2000, who was kind enough to share their perspective about the future of work. We were curious about their perspective on what types of jobs might be the most vulnerable to AI in the next few decades.
"I think clerical-type roles will be largely automated," the OP said, echoing the general sentiment among many researchers.
However, things aren't all grim. Other career paths might prosper because they're more resilient to being replaced.
#10
Going but not gone: we have a milkman who delivers up to twice a week. They come by every two weeks, delivering to the milkbox by our door. It's a luxury, but worth it.
Image credits: BubblesUp
#11
Fotomat attendant.
Della-Dietrich
Image credits: aprehensivebad42
#12
My dad was a floor trader at the Chicago Board of Trade. Ya know, the kind that yells at the top of their lungs in brightly colored jackets. He didn’t even go to college. I used to work summers down there .
It’s all computers now.
Image credits: Witty-Drama-3187
"On the flip side, healthcare and social services will flourish," u/tshirtguy2000 shared their perspective. This is very likely to come true due to the need for human connection, empathy, and communication in these lines of work.
Bored Panda also asked the author of the thread what advice they'd give anyone who hopes to change their career path if they're worried about automation.
According to them, it would probably be best to focus on careers that still require human traits, such as empathy, judgment, creativity, strategizing, or others.
#13
When I was very young I can remember the Iceman bringing blocks of ice to our house for refrigeration. I was probably about 4 years old when we got an electric refrigerator.
Image credits: Puzzleheaded_Gear622
#14
Fuller Brush man.
carwatchaudionut
Image credits: kkeennmm
#15
Door to door vacuum salesman. They’d dump dirt on your carpet and would vacuum it up.
Image credits: ObligationGrand8037
Certain skills and jobs are more resilient to the flow of time than others. Sure, no career is ever completely immune, but it’d be naive to think that every job has the same potential longevity.
For example, until you see competent, independent, and cheaply produced robots walking the streets, your hands-on job that involves a lot of manual precision is going to be safe. Anything related to building and fixing things is going to be resilient to change, even though we’ve seen lots of manufacturing jobs replaced by machines over the centuries.
Meanwhile, jobs that require high emotional intelligence and social finesse—e.g. doctors, caretakers, consultants, psychologists, etc.—also won’t be replaced by AI any time soon. Artists with a unique, soulful style also shouldn’t panic because there’s always going to be a demand for creativity with a fundamentally human touch.
#16
Word processors used to be people. (My mom was one; you were considered extra-technical to be able to format a paper on a computer. Maybe…an IBM 8086? On Word Perfect?).
#17
My first job was in the mail room of a large company. pretty sure that job has dissappeared.
OkWelcome6293
Image credits: ErroneousZones
#18
Vacuum and sewing machine stores. My mom used to take hers in for repairs and had the same vacuum and sewing machine for years. Nowadays people just replace them every few years.
Image credits: Juache45
Though it might seem like generative AI is ‘smart’ or 'gets' us, these tools are probability machines, not thinking or feeling ‘beings.’ Things might change in the far-off future when we get artificial general intelligence, but that’s likely a very long way off.
In the meantime, you can become more resilient to whatever career bizarreness comes your way by developing your personal brand, sharpening your skills (both old and new), networking with other professionals, and generally being a pleasant person to be around. You should never underestimate the power of being someone who it’s easy to work in a team with.
#19
Tailors and dressmakers are rare now. Both those who do alterations and those who make clothes "to order."
Cobbler- shoe repair people. Also did other leather repair such as purse straps, luggage, etc.
Jewelry and watch repair for everyday items. Every little town used to have one. Now only at very high/expensive levels.
Small appliance repair. Toasters, coffee makers, waffle irons, wall clocks, etc. all used to be repaired.
Wallpaper hangers. There used to be people who did this full time. Now it's rare.
Photo studios. I know there are some left, such as wedding photographers. But there used to be many independent studios and in all the department stores, even KMarts, etc. where you could take your kids for photos or have engagement or other photos taken.
Upholsterers. Very hard to find now. I waited a year to get an old chair redone. My mom had her couch and living room chairs reupholstered regularly. Now people just buy new.
Catalog sales stores. There were small shops in rural towns like Sears stores where you'd place a catalog order and then go to pick up the delivery when they called you. This was not a Sears store like in the city. Just a small store with tables and chairs to sit at, go through catalogs, and fill out your order form. Or if you had a catalog at home, to drop off a pre-completed form there. Why do that? There was no shipping charge like if you mail ordered it to your home.
#20
Paperboy.
Huckleberry2419The sound of the paper hitting the porch used to gently wake me up every morning.
Image credits: Own_Inevitable4926
#21
Drafting technicians have become CAD operators. Typist has become (different terms) but someone who formats documents instead of just typing them.
Data Entry Clerks are much less common. Instead of entering data, you just have to analyze supplied data.
Are you at all worried about your jobs getting replaced, dear Pandas? What careers or skills do you think will disappear in your lifetimes? Have you already seen some popular jobs (almost) completely vanish already? What career paths would you choose if money wasn’t an issue at all?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this. Grab your favorite beverage and scroll down to the bottom of the post to share your experiences in the comments section.
#22
Asbestos installer.
michiganwinter
And when they installed it, they do it without a mask or any dust protection with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth and now they’re wrapped up in plastic wearing a respirator.
Image credits: mkwas343
#23
Repairmen in general. TV repair people. Stereo repair people. Even computer repair is probably going to be gone in a few years. We live in a disposable economy now where when things break they're replaced, not repaired.
Even big systems like central air conditioners are now becoming obsolete and no longer economically viable to repair (as the government keeps changing freon types and making the older coolants less available and more expensive).
The other day I bought a 1970s receiver at a thrift store. I was amazed at how "repair friendly" it was. While it didn't work properly when I bought it, I was able to get it fully-working in less than an hour with some basic electronics repair experience. It's a shame those days are long gone. Most modern electronics are difficult if not impossible to repair without very specialized, very expensive equipment.
Image credits: AmericanScream
#24
My father had a cigarette vending machine business. In his day, one of his employees put 2 cents change in between a double pack because it was 2 for 23 cents.
#25
Darkroom techs in Radiology departments. Everything is digital now. I remember our darkroom tech was blind. It was the perfect job for her.
#26
Printing press operatiors.
BabyKatsMom
Image credits: peglar
#27
Car Audio Installer. Best Buy even had a garage at the back for the techs to tear out the standard radio and put in those fancy new cd players...or cassette prior to that. As I recall, a cassette player was an upgrade on a new car that not everyone was willing to do.
#28
I was a newspaper pressman for over 20 years. No luck getting another one of those jobs for me I think. After 2 layoffs from 2 different newspapers who ended production I would have to move out of state to find another newspaper job. This vocation is on the verge of extinction.
#29
Bike messenger. I moved to San Francisco during the height of bike messengers, and it was quite a sight to see hundreds of young, tattooed, punky-looking people with incredible calves riding up and down Market St. downtown every weekday.
#30
Someone said 411, but if you are too young to remember, that was "Information". You called and could get someone's phone number. A live phone book, basically. I once called for the time...they were flexible.
#31
Secretary.
In the 80s and even early 90s every middle manager and up had a secretary to coordinate their schedule, type all sorts of things up, take their calls and messages, and often literally "guard" their door as they were generally stationed right outside your office. There were tons of them, they were always women. I had a shared one when I first started in my first corporate job as a junior individual contributor "manager" in the 90s.
Administrative Assistants these days seem more reserved for executives and serve as general purpose personal assistants doing what Secretaries once did and more. There are far fewer of them.
Image credits: gregaustex
#32
Y2K programmer. There were people who would travel to different companies and rework all of their software so that they would still work after January 1, 2000. They did a great job, and hopefully made a great deal of money, but after that, they had to go back to regular programming.
Image credits: ghotiermann
#33
File clerk, 10 key operator, check manual processing at the banks. I was a bookkeeper at a bank.
Image credits: Nope-not_I
#34
I miss the fruit and vegetable trucks that slowly cruised neighborhoods in the summer with the dial and basket scale hanging off the back and the driver yelling “Apples! Bananas! Potatoes! Come And Get ‘Em!”.
Few_Policy5764
Image credits: anon
#35
This has actually been one of the most ridiculous times for careers in mankind.
For hundreds if not of years, you could be reasonably certain that your children and their children would do what you did - or something similar (assuming of course, that they survived).
Now, the job that my father did (newspaper editor) is largely on its way out, while the job that I do (network engineer) will be largely affected by AI. I have no idea what to recommend my children do, study etc.
#36
Change people on casino floors have disappeared. No more carrying forty pounds of quarters and nickels for the slot machines.
#37
Keypunch operator
Milkman
Gas station attendant
Telephone repairman
Newspapers (home delivery).
Image credits: Fit-Mathematician-91
#38
Stenographer. My mother did that for years before she had kids.
Image credits: SororitySue
#39
Circus clown. Please don't make this about hating clowns. It was an awesome profession till John Wayne Gacy and the movie "It".
Image credits: EconomyTime5944
#40
Photo developer at a kiosk.
#41
Tea Lady - 1st 2 companies I worked at had them - mid 1980s.
#42
Xerox machine operator. There used to be a large room full of Xerox machines and people would made copies for the office.
#43
Electric meter readers.
I work for a power company and everything is electronic. Data is transmitted via radio frequency now. That used to be an entry-level job for us.
#44
Data entry. It's basically non existent at this point.
There used to be data entry jobs just typing data from paper copies into the computer. Now that is 99.99% done by scanning and OCR.
Image credits: SMELL_LIKE_A_TROLL
#45
Secretary has, to a very large degree. Like when you watch those old movies where every man with an office (always a man, of course) has a secretary out front who takes all the calls, types all the documents, takes dictation and types up memos or letters, handles all the correspondence, intercepts visitors and handles the boss's schedule for him - all that makes up the stereotypical secretary job.
Also, this was seen - along with teaching, mostly the younger grades - as the main job opportunity for women - with training courses for shorthand, typing, etc etc very common starting in high school or even earlier.
I mean there are still some positions that handle some of those tasks - mostly in a quite different way now - and some very few people, mostly at the very, very top, who have personal assistants or whatever that handle a bunch of this for them. But everything is handled so differently now that you can say that in essence that old position of "secretary" is just gone.
Image credits: flug32
#46
Travel agents? I never hear anything about them. Or maybe it’s cause I’m poor.
BlueMountainCoffey
#47
A long time back, I was the telephone guy along with other duties. Set up and programmed the PBX and added lines where needed.
