US jobs most likely to grow or shrink in the next decade. See list

As AI and automation reshape workers' daily lives, they are also reshaping which jobs can expect major gains and losses over the next decade, according to new projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The U.S. economy is expected to add 5.9 million jobs, an increase of 3.5%, between 2025 and 2035, but growth will be slower than it was in the previous decade, according to data released Aug. 27 . Total employment is projected to increase from 170.3 million to 176.2 million, with healthcare, technology and renewable energy expected to lead those gains.

Artificial intelligence, a major player in who sees gains and losses, is also driving demand for workers in fields such as data analysis, cybersecurity and software development. But federal data predicts that increased automation will reduce demand for many office support, sales and production jobs.

Administrative jobs, such as clerks, typists and data entry specialists, are expected to take an especially hard hit with a 4% drop in employment, the largest projected in any category, thanks to what the Labor Department called "continued integration of automation tools, including those powered by AI."

Sales, along with the farming, fishing and forestry industries, are also expected to see losses.

Employment rates for these jobs are expected to decline the most between 2025 and 2035, according to the projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They may not represent the most total employees lost; instead, the numbers represent the largest percentage drops.

Some listed positions, such as telephone operators, already have a small remaining workforce. A decline of only about 1,000 workers nationwide over 10 years may seem small until you consider that only about 3,500 people were still doing the job at all in 2025.

Word processors and typists topped the list, with a 34.3% expected decline by 2035. This may not come as a surprise in a world not only of AI, but widespread access to technology that requires ordinary people to develop typing skills.

Similarly, data entry keyers are expected to decline by 25%, while phone-based jobs, including telephone operators, switchboard operators and telemarketers, also hovered at the top of the list.

Some jobs that previously relied on hand craftsmanship but can now be automated made the top 10, including patternmakers and grinding and polishing workers.

Word processors and typists Expected decline: -34.4% Employment in 2025: 40,400 Projected employment in 2035: 26,500 Median annual wage (2025): $49,280

Telephone operators Expected decline: -27.6% Employment in 2025: 3,500 Projected employment in 2035: 2,500 Median annual wage (2025): $41,740

Switchboard operators Expected decline: -26.0% Employment in 2025: 35,400 Projected employment in 2035: 26,200 Median annual wage (2025): $38,630

Data entry keyers Expected decline: -25.5% Employment in 2025: 131,800 Projected employment in 2035: 98,200 Median annual wage (2025): $41,340

Foundry mold and coremakers Expected decline: -23.0% Employment in 2025: 12,700 Projected employment in 2035: 9,800 Median annual wage (2025): $48,110

Patternmakers, metal and plastic Expected decline: -22.8% Employment in 2025: 1,500 Projected employment in 2035: 1,100 Median annual wage (2025): $58,000

Telemarketers Expected decline: -21.4% Employment in 2025: 60,900 Projected employment in 2035: 47,800 Median annual wage (2025): $35,450

Grinding and polishing workers, hand Expected decline: -19.2% Employment in 2025: 10,800 Projected employment in 2035: 8,700 Median annual wage (2025): $42,660

Roof bolters, mining Expected decline: -18.9% Employment in 2025: 2,200 Projected employment in 2035: 1,800 Median annual wage (2025): $78,540

Cutters and trimmers, hand Expected decline: -18.9% Employment in 2025: 5,900 Projected employment in 2035: 4,800 Median annual wage (2025): $38,020