10 Job Sectors in Decline

**OntarioVanMan** · 02-24-2010, 09:02 AM

What to Do If Your Industry Is on the Way Out
by Margaret Steen,

People in almost every profession may feel like jobs are scarce right now. For many industries, this is a temporary situation. But jobs in some fields are expected to continue disappearing even after the economy picks up.

Is your industry on the decline? The federal government projects that a number of industries will lose jobs from 2008 to 2018.

"You can't sit around and wait for news to come out about what's going to happen to your industry," said Alexandra Levit, author of "New Job, New You." "You have to be proactive about this."

Disappearing Jobs

Here's a list of the top 10 industries expected to lose the most jobs by 2018 -- and what to do if you're working in one of them:

1. Department stores: Projected to lose 10.2 percent of the 1.56 million jobs they had in 2008.

2. Semiconductor manufacturing: Projected to lose 33.7 percent of the 432,000 jobs it had in 2008.

3. Motor vehicle parts manufacturing: Projected to lose 18.6 percent of its 544,000 jobs.

4. Postal service: Projected to lose 13 percent of the 748,000 jobs it had in 2008.

5. Printing and related jobs: Projected to lose 16 percent of its 594,000 jobs.

6. Cut-and-sew apparel manufacturing: Projected to lose 57 percent of its 155,000 jobs.

7. Newspaper publishers: Projected to lose 24.8 percent of its 326,000 jobs.

8. Mining support jobs: Projected to lose 23.2 percent of its 328,000 jobs.

9. Gas stations: Projected to lose 8.9 percent of its 843,000 jobs.

10. Wired telecom: Projected to lose 11 percent of its 666,000 jobs.

Semiconductors are one of several manufacturing industries on the declining list. Because so many different types of manufacturing jobs are disappearing, it will not be easy to simply get another manufacturing job. You may need to develop some completely new skills.

Levit suggests beefing up your resume with volunteer work so you can show skills that will be applicable in other industries. For example, helping a volunteer organization deal with its members can show that you have client-service skills.

She also recommends being innovative to keep your job. "You need to be front and center with management, giving them suggestions for how they can remain competitive."

Are You Affected?

What should you do if your industry is on this list? First, don't panic. The job declines in these industries are projected to take place over a decade. And many jobs -- a majority in most of these industries -- will remain even after 10 years.

Still, it's good to start thinking about Plan B. Build your savings and start researching what other industries might be able to use your skills.

If you're nearing retirement and had been planning to move into a different field, you might want to make the move earlier. And if you have many years of work ahead of you, you should consider seriously whether it's feasible for you to stay in your industry for the long term.

"Start sharpening your transferrable skills," Levit said. These include project management, budgeting, and customer service. "You want to be developing a resume that showcases the skills you have in all those areas."

**Steady Eddie** · 02-24-2010, 09:13 AM

There's 11

Lot Lizzards are in danger of being out of work.

**OntarioVanMan** · 02-24-2010, 09:14 AM

It is called progress. period

Remember the milkman? How many 10's of thousands of jobs were lost?

The breadman? Again.

The steel industry because of plastics. How many plastics job were created? It is all progress.

How many sold cell phones in the 50's?

Granted we are in the dumps with the economy but also we are in the middle of an overall change in the way busineses carry on...nothing stays the same...jobs lost, jobs created. So goes life...and politicians have little to do with it....what we need is a good R&D policy for companies to be able to afford the changes to compete.

**OntarioVanMan** · 02-24-2010, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Steady Eddie

There's 11

Lot Lizzards are in danger of being out of work.

Lot lizards will be here forever....

**Steady Eddie** · 02-24-2010, 09:25 AM

The ones I've seen of late, are not getting the work they use to. Times are tough...they are getting older/fatter, drugs are making them......ugly!

**Dakota** · 02-24-2010, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by OntarioVanMan

Lot lizards will be here forever....

The world's oldest profession

**greg334** · 02-24-2010, 10:56 AM

OVM,
This is one of those Yahoo HOT JOBS! thing, not to be taken seriously.

The semiconductor industry is kind of weird, because of the diversity of the manufacturing process itself. If it losses jobs, then there is progress - just look at Job shops compared to fab shops, the former is losing the latter is gaining.

Number 4 seems to be in line with the attitude of the people who work there. I expected delivery of a 20 lb package yesterday, I waited all day and the carrier knew I was home. He delivered the mail but then tagged my door "no one present to sign - pick it up at the post office".

**OntarioVanMan** · 02-24-2010, 11:06 AM

So Greg..whom is there to take seriously?

The Government?

The Economists?

The Unions?

The Anti-Government?

The Pro-Government?

Who?

Where is the next revolution in jobs?

Who would of thought back in the 50's there'd be a cell phone company in every strip mall employing thousands of people.

Health Care and anything to do with health care of Geriatrics. The baby boomers are going to need care....and the Funeral homes...

**skyraider** · 02-24-2010, 02:56 PM

Well all that info was great: So when the Lot Lizzards get to old to work, will they be Geri was tricks,,lol

**greg334** · 02-24-2010, 04:27 PM

OVM
I have to take seriously real jobs, not a jobs site that tells people that there are trucking jobs out there.

So let's look at these things. Many of these things are effected by technology, not the economy.

1. Department stores: Projected to lose 10.2 percent of the 1.56 million jobs they had in 2008.

What's a department store? They died a long time ago. Who goes to Hudsons or Macys when they have target, walmart and other box stores?

It seems that this trend has been going on for the past 15 years, with the reduction of store locations, consolation of store operations and most of all mergers within the "department Store" industry - even in good times.

2. Semiconductor manufacturing: Projected to lose 33.7 percent of the 432,000 jobs it had in 2008.

I already commented on this.

3. Motor vehicle parts manufacturing: Projected to lose 18.6 percent of its 544,000 jobs.

This is another tread that has been with us for a while. I think the numbers are actually of employed is a bit larger than they are stating but again it is something that we have had for the past 30 years and continuing on.

With the progress of technology, the cheapness of labor even in other states and the fact that the car compaines don't produce the vehicle numbers have a lot to do with it.

4. Postal service: Projected to lose 13 percent of the 748,000 jobs it had in 2008.

Well first thing is they are competing with this media - forums and email and a lot of electronic communications systems. They can do with an overhaul but as I said, it is attitude that drives the customer to them.

5. Printing and related jobs: Projected to lose 16 percent of its 594,000 jobs.

I thought we were going to be a paperless society? Oh how about the Global warming thing?
This is another thing that is a downward spiral of jobs, not just because of alternate means of communications but d*mn I can now own my own print shop with an industrial laser printer, paper sheer and a stapler - all under $800. You take a look at On Demand printing lately? I got my stuff published on a per sale basis with on demand printing - still make a crap load of profit and I don't have to deal with an inventory or even postage.

6. Cut-and-sew apparel manufacturing: Projected to lose 57 percent of its 155,000 jobs.

Cut and sew? Another thing that is part of the past unfortunetly. I sew pretty well, but my wife can't stitch a thing. So I would put the blame on the schools, they used to teach home economics and skills but now with our throw away society and more importantly the need to wear ripped up things, who cares about sewing. By the way, dry cleaning and talioring are also on the decline.

7. Newspaper publishers: Projected to lose 24.8 percent of its 326,000 jobs.

This is a given, it is part of the electronic revolution, nothing else. Actually I wouldn't put the words "Newspaper" and "Publishing" together, the publishing part is pretty different from the printing part - so it would be more or less Newspaper Printing is on the decline.

But with that said - there is another issue with Newspapers, they are greedy. When they insist on charging for content while others give it for free, there is an issue. They haven't gotten to the point to understand how they can make money on this Internet thing.

8. Mining support jobs: Projected to lose 23.2 percent of its 328,000 jobs.

Well OK, I haven't looked much at mining jobs, but the last time I looked it is easier to get a job in mining than say IT.

9. Gas stations: Projected to lose 8.9 percent of its 843,000 jobs.

There are jobs at gas stations? OK I guess but the thing seems to be that there has been a decline in fuel outlets for the past 40 years so what else is new?

10. Wired telecom: Projected to lose 11 percent of its 666,000 jobs.

OK telecom like IT changes with technology. The field seems to be reducing the positons on one hand and hiring more versital employees on the other. Remember this thing called the INTERNET needs copper to work, someone has to be there to fix the wire that breaks.

SOLUTION - Fairtax

**muttly** · 02-24-2010, 04:29 PM

Health Care is and will be a big industry for years to come.

**OntarioVanMan** · 02-24-2010, 06:58 PM

Your post proves the point....most are traditional jobs and they dwindling....The old standard is/has been changing.

Oh BTW...Maceys and JC Penny has their sales increasing as they take market share away from Walmart for the first time since 1978....Walmart actually saw sales decline in year to year totals...
Walmart is re-organizing yet again...closing and tossing out their Friendly Market stores, closing some Sams and going back to their 175,000 sq foot and bigger models of super stores...

**Steady Eddie** · 02-24-2010, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by OntarioVanMan

So Greg..whom is there to take seriously?

The Government?

The Economists?

The Unions?

The Anti-Government?

The Pro-Government?

Who?

Where is the next revolution in jobs?

Who would of thought back in the 50's there'd be a cell phone company in every strip mall employing thousands of people.

Health Care and anything to do with health care of Geriatrics. The baby boomers are going to need care....and the Funeral homes...

Who would have thought in the 50's there would be Strip Malls- 100's not thousands...in each.

**Steady Eddie** · 02-24-2010, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by skyraider

Well all that info was great: So when the Lot Lizzards get to old to work, will they be Geri was tricks,,lol

New breed of lizzards....up and coming to a truck stop near you...

**greg334** · 02-24-2010, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by OntarioVanMan

Oh BTW...Maceys and JC Penny has their sales increasing as they take market share away from Walmart for the first time since 1978....Walmart actually saw sales decline in year to year totals...
Walmart is re-organizing yet again...closing and tossing out their Friendly Market stores, closing some Sams and going back to their 175,000 sq foot and bigger models of super stores...

So Penny and macys went from .023% to .031% market share combined?

So when macys and penny get into being an all in one store then they will be serious competition.