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9 Dying Jobs That Are Expected To Disappear Before 2030

Steer clear of these dying jobs.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Sara Albertelli

Updated May 13, 2026

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After a dismal February, the job market roared in like a lion this March with more than 178,000 new jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. But while the overall economy is adding more jobs than expected, some industries are losing positions at an alarming rate, many of them due to frequent changes in the world of automation, generative AI, and e-commerce.

In some cases, the best way to prepare yourself financially for retirement is to transition into a new career before your job disappears entirely. Keep reading to find out which jobs the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates going away in the next decade.

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Cashiers

BLS projection: 313,600 jobs lost by 2034

Think about how many times you choose the self-checkout over the regular checkout at the grocery store, and you'll understand exactly why cashier jobs are declining. And it isn't just grocery stores. Clothing stores, restaurants, and mall kiosks offer cashier-free payment options these days.

Plus, e-commerce and the promise of easy delivery through Uber and DoorDash mean more Americans are making virtual transactions only and without the help of a cashier.

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General office clerks

BLS projection: 177,800 jobs lost by 2034

Between the introduction of generative AI tools and ongoing workflow automation, the demand for office clerks who type, transfer calls, enter data, and schedule appointments is trending downward. Automated phone services, e-filing services, and flexible office software should result in fewer clerk jobs year over year, though a few jobs are likely to carry through.

Data entry keyers

BLS projection: 36,700 jobs lost by 2034

Although it's losing fewer individual jobs than some other industries, the data entry clerk industry is set to shrink by a staggering 25.9% in 10 years. This industry in particular has been hard hit by generative AI since these tools are able to enter data far faster than an individual doing it by hand. The more accurate these tools get over time, the more unnecessary human workers are going to become.

Customer service representatives

BLS projection: 153,700 jobs lost by 2034

Automated phone trees have already reduced the amount of work for human customer service agents, and generative AI is set to take this a few steps further. New chat and phone systems are starting to handle routine calls.

However, some customers prefer the human touch, so there is likely to be a market for customer service reps (especially among businesses that want to offer a higher-quality customer service experience to their clientele).

Bank tellers

BLS projection: 44,900 jobs lost by 2034

Bank customers are able to do just about anything through their banking app, including deposit checks without visiting a physical branch. Coupled with ATMs, automated online banking is gradually reducing the need for fully staffed banks.

Payroll and timekeeping clerks

BLS projection: 27,000 jobs lost by 2034

Thanks to bookkeeping, payroll, and accounting software, small businesses could run payroll in-house without having a full-time payroll expert on hand. While there could continue to be opportunities for a handful of experts, payroll teams are likely to go down in size as software becomes more efficient.

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Retail sales workers

BLS projection: 11,000 jobs lost by 2034

It's likely you already do much of your shopping online, and the trend toward e-commerce over physical, in-person shopping isn't likely to change anytime soon. Combined with the shift toward self-checkouts and the emphasis on shopping online that took place during the pandemic, it makes sense that the BLS expects around 11,000 retail sales jobs to be lost in the next 10 years.

Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

BLS projection: 18,900 jobs lost by 2034

Generative AI tools are getting much better at analyzing photographs of property damage and then generating payment estimates for human workers to approve. Still, the BLS anticipates 21,600 jobs in the field to open each year, so opportunities should still exist, despite the 5% projected decline.

Postal service workers

BLS projection: 22,900 jobs lost by 2034

Postal service jobs have been going down year over year for quite some time now. Email replaced physical communication ages ago, and first-class mail volume has declined. Plus, faster, more accurate software tools are able to scan and sort mail, cutting down the need for human workers within post offices.

While some of these postal service jobs are going to disappear, other individuals might be able to transfer into delivering mail exclusively, though this, in turn, means that fewer new postal carriers are going to be hired.

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Bottom line

While many of these jobs are set to disappear by 2034, some could take several years to phase out, especially if turnover creates opportunities for new hires. But if you want to keep more cash in your wallet for decades to come and not just for a few more years, consider boosting your skills in other industries. Retraining and picking up new skills might be your best path to long-term career stability.

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