9 Dying Industries That Aren’t Worth Getting Jobs in at This Point

With all the digital options available, it can be easier than ever to work from home. You can be a content creator or business executive from the comfort of your dining room. But those tech solutions are proving to be bad news for some industries and occupations.

With more customers becoming comfortable with doing business through tech platforms, they're putting less value on human interaction in many industries. If you're looking to change careers, it could be very helpful to keep this information in mind. Here's a look at some dying industries that probably aren't worth pursuing.

This may be one of the worst times in the history of the U.S. to be a journalist. After all, hardly a week goes by that there isn't at least one journalism outlet announcing layoffs or closures.

In fact, thousands of American journalists lost their jobs last year, and there's no real reason to expect a change in 2025. Fewer outlets, fewer jobs, and more reliance on tech like artificial intelligence make this an industry to seriously consider avoiding.

If you want a career in information tech, you might want to look at some options other than computer programming. These professionals are going to be needed less as automation takes over much of the programming work.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates computer programming will see a 10% decline in jobs by 2033. But there may be good news, you can turn your passion for computers into a rewarding career. For instance, BLS lists information security analysts as among the fastest-growing occupations, with a 2023 median salary that exceeds $120,000.

This one hits a bit close to home for me. My mom was a data entry clerk and really enjoyed her work. But times have changed. So has the need for data entry clerks and others in this industry.

Tech now allows this kind of work to be automated. As for the pay with the remaining jobs, the median annual wage may be around $40,000, according to the BLS, which also listed it among the fastest declining occupations.

In the list of fastest declining occupations from the BLS, telemarketer is among those highlighted. While it might be welcome news for those who're recipients of telemarketing calls, it's bad news for those who make a living by making those calls.

This is another industry that's dying thanks in large part to tech. It's probably easier and cheaper to have automated tech make those calls than to have live operators.

Here's an industry that may be a bit controversial to add to this list. But it's on here because new technology makes it a much more difficult industry to break into than in previous years. That's because many people already have cameras in their pockets wherever they go, thanks to their phones.

Not only that, but many of these phones also have basic editing software, which people can use to make amateur photos look professional with just a few clicks. 

When you consider the pay scale — the BLS says that the average 2023 salary was $53,380 — combined with the cost of purchasing and maintaining all of that equipment, it becomes harder to break even as a photographer.

First, let's point out that translators are essential in many settings, such as hospitals and international businesses. This is an important service that can help patients and their families.

But, again, technology is pushing out live humans in favor of programs that can handle many languages and perhaps do so in a more efficient manner. And, like the issue facing photographers, a lot of that tech is readily at everyone's fingertips thanks to their cell phones.

You probably notice a theme in this list of dying industries, and you can add the bookkeeping and accounting industry to it, since advanced technologies have allowed many bookkeeping and accounting functions to be done automatically.

The BLS estimates the number of jobs in this industry will decline by 5% by 2033.

While it may still be worth it to go to school and become a lawyer, other jobs in the legal field don't look like they're going to offer such bright futures. In fact, computer automation has already begun doing some of the work of paralegals and legal assistants.

In case you're wondering, the same concerns have been raised about positions in business such as executive and administrative assistants. While there may be opportunities to become a virtual assistant and work from home, executives are tending to hire fewer assistants as they rely more on tech-based solutions.

Tech certainly has been changing customer service in recent years. You're more likely now than ever to go through a computer system before you reach a real person, if you ever do.

Not only are phone and computer systems helping tackle customer service, but apps have also made a big dent in this industry.

One way to lower your financial stress is to secure a career in an industry that looks bright, even with tech changes. That may mean avoiding some industries — like journalism and customer service — since they seem poised to continue replacing traditional workers with high-tech solutions.

Looking for a career change? One way to make a move to a more secure industry involves starting with a side hustle. This will allow you to test out the waters in a new industry by doing work on the side, all while maintaining the financial security provided by your regular job.