Automation and shifting markets threaten 12 specific career paths

The displacement of these roles is largely driven by a combination of artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and evolving regulatory environments. Foundry mold and coremakers, for instance, find their traditional duties superseded by the speed and precision of additive manufacturing. Meanwhile, telemarketers are navigating a market shrinking under the weight of the FCC’s Do Not Call registry and a pivot toward sophisticated digital marketing alternatives.

Economic vulnerability characterizes this group. Most of the 12 professions projected to shrink earn below the national median annual wage of $50,980. While the broader U.S. labor market is expected to grow by 3.5% over the next decade, these sectors are outliers in a workforce increasingly focused on the needs of an aging population. The healthcare and social assistance sector remains the primary engine for future job creation, expected to account for 37% of the 5.9 million new positions added through 2035.