As the job market evolves with technology, shifting priorities, and changing workplace dynamics, some once-common careers have fallen out of favor. A new report from WhatJobs highlights 10 occupations that people are increasingly avoiding in 2025, driven by factors like low pay, grueling hours, or simply being replaced by automation. Here’s a look at the jobs no one seems to want anymore.
- Telemarketer
Cold-calling strangers to pitch products has become a relic of the past. With robocalls and spam filters taking over, telemarketers face rejection rates nearing 90%, according to industry data. Add in minimum-wage pay, and it’s no wonder this gig is losing its allure. - Postal Worker
Once a stable career, delivering mail isn’t what it used to be. The rise of email and e-commerce has slashed traditional letter volumes, while physically demanding routes and unpredictable weather make the job less appealing, despite union perks. - Travel Agent
Booking trips was a dream job before the internet. Now, with platforms like Expedia and Airbnb, travel agents are sidelined, left to compete for a shrinking pool of clients who still value personalized service over DIY convenience. - Factory Worker
Repetitive assembly-line tasks are being swallowed by robots. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 5% decline in these roles by 2030, and the promise of steady pay no longer outweighs the monotony or physical toll for many. - Newspaper Reporter
Print journalism’s heyday is over. Digital media and shrinking newsroom budgets have cut jobs, leaving reporters with long hours, low salaries (averaging $40,000 annually), and an uncertain future—hardly the glamorous gig it once was. - Bank Teller
ATMs, mobile banking, and apps like Venmo have made tellers nearly obsolete. The role’s decline—down 15% since 2015, per federal data—offers little incentive with its modest pay and limited growth potential. - Data Entry Clerk
Typing numbers into spreadsheets sounds dull, and it is. Automation software now handles most data processing, leaving this job with a shrinking footprint and wages that rarely top $15 an hour. - Sewing Machine Operator
Fast fashion relies on overseas labor and machines, not local seamstresses. In the U.S., these jobs have dwindled by 70% since the 1990s, and the remaining roles offer little pay or stability. - Parking Enforcement Officer
Ticketing cars isn’t winning anyone friends. With smart parking apps and cameras taking over enforcement, this unpopular job—often paying less than $20 hourly—faces both public scorn and technological redundancy. - Taxi Driver
Uber and Lyft have all but run traditional cabbies off the road. Fierce competition, high licensing costs, and unpredictable earnings (often below $30,000 a year) make this a tough sell in 2025.
These fading professions reflect a broader shift: people want flexibility, purpose, and decent pay—qualities harder to find in jobs being overtaken by tech or left behind by cultural change. As the workforce pivots, these roles may soon be little more than memories.