Ghosts of Jobs Past, Present and Future

Consider the labor market and how it’s changed over the years. Jobs that were once abundant and highly sought-after no longer exist, while today’s top jobs may not exist in the future.

And when you look to the future and what job titles may eventually enter the labor market, it’s hard to believe how far we’ve come in such a short time. From a society that once had popular jobs such as Elevator Operators to push the buttons for you, comes the potential for Space Pilots and Architects who may pave the way for lunar outpost living.

Jobs of the past may not haunt many of us, but considering what advancements in technology and society occurred to render them obsolete is certainly extraordinary.

Check out the Ghosts of Jobs Past… once-popular titles that no longer exist:

Video Store Clerk – As much as we love Netflix, the thrill of picking your favorite VHS to rent from Blockbuster was real.

Payphone Repair Technician – When was the last time you even saw a payphone?

Elevator Operator – Now we cringe and stare awkwardly anywhere but at each other when we have to share an elevator with a stranger.

Film Developer – Remember dropping off those disposable cameras, hoping you got at least one decent photo?

Milk Man – Now we have the ability to have more than just milk delivered.

Wired Telecommunications Specialist – I can still hear that dial-up tone trying to connect to the internet…

In thinking about today’s astounding advancements of technology and society, what do you think those Elevator Operators would say about some of the top job titles of the present?

Check out the Ghosts of Jobs Present:
(Are they really ghosts if they’re currently on the top lists for job titles?)

The real Ghosts of Jobs Present are the ones forecasted to go extinct soon due to advancements in technology and demands of society, check them out:

Cashiers - Being replaced with the self-checkout kiosks all the big-box grocers have now.

Rail Drivers - Autopilot and the continued use of tracks will soon render human rail drivers obsolete.

Utility Workers / Meter Reader - With advances in wireless technology and data transfers, someone to physically read the meters is no longer required.

Typist / Data Entry - AI and microphones make this a breeze, there aren’t many people left who don’t know what “talk-to-text” means.

Bank Tellers - Remember when the only way to get cash and check your balance was to actually go inside a bank?

Fast Food Workers - I actually ran inside Taco Bell this weekend… and had to order at a kiosk.

Tollbooth Operators - The convenience of a toll tag and getting to roll through the toll booth without stopping (or even slowing down) can’t be beat.

Translators - There’s an app for that… or an AI bot.

Administrative Support – A majority of administrative work has been streamlined and digitized, and most calendars are too busy for pen and paper anyway.

Telemarketer – Do you answer calls from unknown numbers?

And now we find ourselves in the same place those Elevator Operators found themselves in all those years ago… looking toward the future, wondering what new jobs may exist we only dream of right now.

The Ghosts of Future Jobs are certainly interesting, and may be closer to existing than we realize. Check out the futuristic job titles experts predict to enter the labor market at some point:

The ghosts of jobs past, present and future show us a lot about how far we’ve come as a society, and help us better speculate where the labor market will take us.

Whether you’re planning your next career move, or coaching the next generation on what skills to focus on, there’s no need to fear the specter of the future as long as you’ve learned from the past and continue to grow your skills for what’s next.

Sources: https://www.simplilearn.com/future-of-work-article | https://www.usemultiplier.com/blog/emerging-job-titles-in-2023-and-beyond