10 professions that are no longer worth starting

Not sure which professions are no longer worth starting? We are living in an era of transformation driven by technology and artificial intelligence, which is significantly redefining the professional landscape.

This scenario, full of challenges and opportunities, witnesses the dizzying emergence of some professions, while others are threatened by extinction.

Rapidly evolving industries and increasing automation are sculpting the occupational landscape in unprecedented ways.

For those looking to build a solid financial future and avoid the pitfalls of declining careers, it is imperative to stay on top of job market trends.

In this dynamic scenario, identifying professions that are losing relevance becomes as crucial as discovering those that are on the rise.

This guide is designed to help anyone looking to build a strong career in an environment that is constantly changing.

1. Factory Operators

In many factories, robots are already doing some jobs, including simple tasks like moving boxes from one place to another.

This suggests that machines have the potential to take some jobs, especially those considered risky for human workers.

However, it is not certain that many jobs will be completely replaced by robots. A 2022 study by Brigham Young University found that only 14% of workers surveyed had their jobs taken by robots.

Furthermore, these workers tended to believe that they were being replaced at a higher rate than they actually were.

2. Travel agents

When you need to plan a trip to a place you don't know well, travel agents are a great help, offering complete packages.

However, algorithms are getting smarter and smarter. Sometimes, a quick online search is all it takes to find information about a specific destination before you travel.

Many travel sites now use virtual assistants, such as ChatGPT, to help customers with questions about flights or places to stay.

3. Bank Tellers

These days, it’s almost impossible to find a bank that doesn’t have an app or doesn’t offer online access to your accounts.

Whether you want to set up direct deposit or transfer money between accounts, most banks offer these options online. Some banks even operate exclusively online.

With online features, you can access your account anytime, 24 hours a day. This means there is less need to rely on bank tellers.

4. Supermarket checkouts

You may have noticed that supermarkets and other shopping places are seeing more and more self-checkouts. Not only that, even restaurants like Burger King and McDonald's are using touch screens to place orders.

These ATMs are easy and convenient for quick purchases, but they are also replacing human cashiers who are no longer as necessary.

Even though there is still someone to help when the ATM is not working, the number of people working at the cash registers is decreasing.

5. Postmen

Everyone gets mail, but how it gets to your home and what you find in your mailbox are changing.

For example, many companies now offer the option to pay bills online instead of sending paper invoices.

Additionally, in the post office, automated sorting machines are replacing mail carriers. Due to these factors, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the number of jobs in this area will fall by 6% by 2031.

6. Telemarketing operators

Today, advanced artificial intelligence algorithms can make sales calls, often without the customer realizing they are talking to a computer.

These automated systems can also analyze consumer data in real time to make more effective sales proposals.

Many major brands have reported a huge increase in sales and return on investment (ROI) using this technology as it doesn’t require breaks or pauses between calls.

7. Agricultural Workers

With drones monitoring crops and automated tractors, technology is taking over heavy lifting on farms.

Precision agriculture techniques help farms manage resources more efficiently, further reducing the need for manual labor.

Artificial intelligence is already being applied to tractors without driver, smart irrigation and fertilization systems, smart spraying technology and robotic harvesters.

8. Librarians

The rise of digital libraries and AI-powered catalog systems has made it less necessary to go to a physical library.

People can own and organize digital books more easily than physical books, which take up space.

Furthermore, publishing physical books has a greater environmental impact than digital libraries. In short, digital libraries help preserve trees.

9. Textile workers

In textile factories, computer-controlled machines are increasingly being used for tasks such as cutting and sewing. These automated systems can operate at any time and are more precise than human workers.

As this technology advances, more factories are likely to adopt these modern methods to reduce costs and increase production without compromising quality.

10. Arbitrators

With technologies like AI-assisted VAR, refereeing in sporting events is undergoing a transformation. This raises questions about the future of human referees.

As video-assisted refereeing systems become more widely accepted, the margin for human error in refereeing becomes less acceptable, both to fans and teams.

Artificial intelligence and sensors have the potential to make more accurate decisions than decades of human-based arbitration.

Conclusion

The constant advancement of technology, especially artificial intelligence, is significantly transforming several professional sectors.

We see changes in ways of working, with automation replacing some functions and optimizing processes in areas such as factories, customer service and agriculture.

These transformations offer benefits in efficiency, productivity and accuracy, but they also raise challenges related to the displacement of traditional jobs and the need for professional retraining.

Amid these changes, it is essential to explore ways to balance technological innovation with the needs and concerns of the workforce, ensuring a fair and inclusive transition to the future.