12 Dying Office Jobs That Aren’t Worth Pursuing at This Point

Changing technology and workplace expectations have made some career paths less secure than they once were, especially for those in an office setting. While some gigs used to be a comfortable and steady way to secure paychecks, many are being widely phased out.

Being aware of career paths that will help build wealth and provide job security (and ones that won't) is key to long-term financial success. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the World Economic Forum have recently forecasted which jobs will see the most decline, and these 12 are likely not worth pursuing anymore.

Bank tellers once flooded bank branches and credit unions across the country. Now, since much of the routine work they once did, like cashing checks and depositing money, is automated, demand has dropped significantly.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of bank tellers will drop 15% over the next decade.

Word processors and typists were previously responsible for typing up letters, reports, and other materials for their employers. However, due to the routine nature that can, for the most part, be automated, the demand is nowhere near what it once was.

The BLS anticipates that typists will see the largest decline over the next decade. Employment is expected to decrease between 2023 and 2033, dropping a whopping 38%.

The BLS lumps data for bookkeepers in with that for similar roles, accounting and auditing clerks. Previously, these employees were needed to record data to help their employers keep complete and accurate records.

Now, much of the work can be done using automated programs, and employment is expected to drop 5% over the next decade.

The World Economic Forum's (WEF) Future of Jobs Survey also includes bookkeepers in the top 15 jobs forecasted to decline the most by 2030.

Administrative assistants were once needed across a range of industries — from health care to education to tech services — to help with routine and clerical tasks for their employers.

Like bookkeepers, many administrative assistants have already been replaced with automated programs. The WEF also includes these workers in the top jobs expected to decline the most by 2030.

Telephone operators were previously needed in a range of industries, from health care to travel to local government.

However, much of the assistance they used to provide can be offered online now, and the BLS projects employment of these workers will drop a whopping 26.4% over the decade.

Like administrative assistants, much of the organizational work that legal secretaries or assistants typically do can now be done through a variety of online programs.

While getting trained as a legal secretary or paralegal is not a complete lost cause for those who have a strong desire to work in law, the WEF also includes legal secretaries in their list of top largest declining jobs.

Claims adjusters, who may also be referred to as appraisers, examiners, or investigators, work for insurance companies to evaluate the claims made by customers. Today, many companies use AI and algorithms to decide if they will accept or deny a claim, reducing the need for workers.

According to the WEF's Future of Jobs survey, claims adjusters are one of the fastest-declining roles, and BLS data projects that employment of claims adjusters will drop 5% over the decade.

Financial clerks could previously find employment helping customers with routine tasks and administrative work at bank branches, medical practices, and more.

Like many other administrative gigs, though, employment is decreasing due to automation. The BLS projects that employment of financial clerks will drop by 4% over the next ten years.

Bill and account collectors typically work for debt collection agencies, though some work for creditors. The job involves getting in touch with customers who have overdue bills.

While it was once a much-needed job, demand has dropped as technology has improved, and the BLS projects employment of collectors will continue to drop by 9% between 2023 and 2033.

The demand for ad sales agents, who sell promotional space, is expected to continue dropping, with employment decreasing by 7% over the next decade.

But while the world of ad sales has transformed in many ways, there is still demand for those with related skills. For example, demand for advertising managers, who help generate interest in products or services, is on the rise, with 8% projected job growth over the decade.

Telemarketing, where employers peddle goods or services or solicit donations over the phone, was once big business. These days, however, many people screen their calls, and much of the work is now done online, resulting in a significant drop in demand.

The BLS projects that employment of telemarketers will continue to drop by 21.5% over the decade. The WEF also forecasts these workers as one of the most likely to decline by 2030, according to their Future of Jobs survey.

Data entry clerks are responsible for inputting information into computer systems or spreadsheets through data entry devices, such as a keyboard.

For the most part, they maintain and update company records and ensure the data is accurate. But automation and technology in the workplace have overtaken many of these roles, reducing the need for the manual nature of the job.

The BLS lists data entry clerks as one of the top 10 jobs projected to decline the fastest over the next ten years. Employment is expected to decrease by 25%.

Nabbing a comfortable and stable office job has long been thought of as a way to eliminate some money stress, but it's important to keep your finger on the pulse of what's likely to be in demand in the future, too.

Unlike the jobs listed here, some office jobs — like data scientists, actuaries, and financial examiners — are expected to be in high demand for years to come.