Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Elevator Operators, Bowling Pinsetters, Record Store Managers, film processing technicians. Some more obscure jobs as Locomotive Firemen and Aircraft Navigators.* Actually, few jobs disappear entirely, but many greatly shrivel.* For example there are still TV repairmen, but not nearly as many as 60 years ago when TV sets were more expensive and broke down often. Europe has been quicker to automate since labor costs there are higher.
As an admin assistant, I made travel arrangements for people just by using the internet and making phone calls. Fifteen years earlier the company had a travel agency they used, then stopped using them. Many business people make their own travel arrangements.
My husband's company has a travel agency but no more secretaries or typists. Everyone types their own correspondence on their laptops. The top boss as an admin assist but she's the only one.
Er, banks were 9 to 3, 9 to 5 or 6 on Friday, Mon-Fri, for decades.
Long hours started about the time they were allowed to cross state lines, maybe mid-1980s?
Not surprised you're seeing a shrinkage again, though.
So true, I totally forgot about that!! I worked as a bank teller in 1986 and remember that I worked from about 9-2. We had to physically key in the checks using a 10-key and if they were "on us" or from another bank. I saw the first ATMs about 1982. But, I didn't want to use them since they charged $1 to use them.
I’m sure that there are more than what I can think of. Some jobs that I’m reminded of daily are parking attendants and tollway attendants. When I first started my current job two years ago, our parking garage had a live attendant (most likely a retiree) who would make change and help when the gate got stuck. Gone now- just to save a few pennies. .
Pennies? try tens of thousands each employee. 7.25/hr * 100 hours open a week * 11 (10% employer taxes) * 52 weeks = $41,470 per employee not there. So if they charge say $5 an hour to park, every attendant eliminated equals 8,294 cars parked for an hour.
"Any job which can be automated without significant or long-term loss of revenue will be." That would make a good axiom... must write it down.
If one grocery store was to go to self-checkout as the only option, they'd probably all but go out of business. But when they all slowly lower their six-shooters on the matter, it's 'eat it or die' for shoppers. There will probably be noticeable bobbles in revenue and profit, but only until the new situation stabilizes and no one is driving ten miles for groceries in their 1996 Huff any more.
Buckle up; the loss of customer service people in every category, from toll takers to garages to groceries to fast food, is about to accelerate.
We are headed for some sort of "guaranteed income" in the not-too-distant future. It's inevitable--the only question is in regards to how long some people might "fight" the idea. You can't just assume that low-skilled workers will simply find something else to do after their jobs have been automated--there might not be anything else to turn to. You can't have an unemployment rate of 30-40% without some sort of social unrest. I do envision some sort of "job-sharing" program , but will everyone be involved, or just some occupations?
I wondered what happened to door-to-door encyclopedia sales people..what business did they transition to..
I think door-to-door sales (in general) has become largely obsolete. And I never see paperboys anymore. Newspaper customers are dwindling, & it seems like it's mostly car-bound adults left in the delivery game (?)
I wondered what happened to door-to-door encyclopedia sales people..what business did they transition to..
I think door-to-door sales (in general) has become largely obsolete. And I never see paperboys anymore. Newspaper customers are dwindling, & it seems like it's mostly car-bound adults left in the delivery game (?)
It seems most of the door-to-door callers these days are campaigning for either some type of non-profit or political cause. As far as sales, there are still some, but usually for some type of service, rather than a tangible product. Examples would be home security monitoring, lawn/tree service, cable/satellite service, etc.
I haven't seen a "paperboy" in many years. Indeed, mostly moonlighting adults in cars who have to cover a larger territory with fewer customers.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
