Job Market Pivot: Discover Which Jobs Are Booming and Which Are Vanishing

Euronews Business Offers a Deep Dive Into the Fastest‑Growing and Fastest‑Declining Careers Ahead of 2030

Rising roles outlined by the report highlight the surge in demand for tech specialists, renewable energy engineers, and data‑analytics professionals. These occupations are projected to expand noticeably as digital transformation and climate initiatives take center stage worldwide.

Steady Declines

• Traditional manufacturing positions – shift toward automation and robotics.
• Retail clerks – increased competition from e‑commerce platforms.
• Print media editors – reduced output due to digital content dominance.

By 2030, the study emphasizes a shift toward knowledge‑heavy, skill‑intensive roles, while routine, manual jobs face a gradual contraction, underscoring the importance for workers to adapt and acquire new competencies.

High‑Demand Technology Careers for the Next Five Years

Beyond the roles already projected to exceed 80% growth, a range of technology‑focused positions continues to lead the fastest‑expanding career landscape. Executives forecast the following roles to experience the biggest increases over the coming five years:

• Software & Application Developers: 57%
• Security Management Specialists: 53%
• Data Warehousing Specialists: 49%
• Autonomous & Electric Vehicle Specialists: 48%
• UI & UX Designers: 48%
• Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers: 46%
• Internet of Things Specialists: 42%
• Data Analysts & Scientists: 41%

Clerical positions across various industries are declining

Projected Decline of Clerical Roles by 2030

Across a variety of sectors, clerical occupations are set to diminish at a rapid pace, though not as swiftly as the most in-demand positions of the future. Three‑tenths of postal clerics are projected to lose their roles, followed closely by bank front‑desk personnel and allied administrative functions, both expected to contract by roughly one‑third.

Key Drivers of Reduction

• Advancements in technology—particularly artificial intelligence—are fueling the downturn.
• Data entry specialists face an anticipated 26% drop as enterprises increasingly adopt digital workflows.
• One out of five cashiers or ticketing attendants will be displaced, a 20% contraction resulting from the rise of electronic tickets and self‑service kiosks.

Additional Occupations Affected

• Administrative Assistants and Executive Secretaries – 20% decline
• Printing and Related Trades Workers – 20% decline
• Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Clerks – 18% decline
• Material‑Recording and Stock‑Keeping Clerks – 16% decline
• Door‑to‑Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors – 14% decline

Farmers needed: 35 million more jobs in agriculture

Job Market Shifts in Agriculture and Beyond

Absolute Numbers Matter

When analyzing employment trends, a lot of people prefer to see the actual count of positions added and eliminated.

Top Growth Sector: Farming and Agriculture

• Projected new jobs: 49 million
• Projected job losses: 14.1 million
• Net gain over five years: 34.9 million

Comprehensive Industry Outlook

Across all sectors:

• Expected job losses: 92 million
• Expected job creations: 170 million
• Overall net increase: 78 million

In these totals, farming and agriculture will account for 35 million new roles, which is 45 % of the overall net growth.

Visual Summary

The chart tracks total job increases, declines, and overall absolute growth, providing a clear focus on net job growth.

Delivery and food

Job Growth in Transportation and Tech Sectors

Delivery Services

The delivery industry is expanding swiftly. 9.8 million new positions will appear for drivers of light trucks and delivery vans, while the segment for car, van, and motorcycle drivers—ranked seventh overall—will add 4.1 million jobs.

Software and Application Development

Software and app developers move up the hierarchy as the third most rapid job‑growing field, generating a net addition of 6.7 million roles.

Food Production and Service

The food sector remains a key driver of employment. Around 4.3 million extra positions will materialize for food processing and allied trade workers, and about 2.8 million new roles are forecasted for food and beverage service staff.

Nursing and care aides: No decline, only growth

Nursing & Personal Care Workforce

Key Staffing Numbers: 3.1 million nurses and 1.6 million personal‑care workers.

Projected Employment Outlook

• Both occupations are forecasted to sustain steady employment levels.
• There is no anticipated decline for either role, guaranteeing ongoing job stability.

What is happening with Shop Salespersons?

Key Insights on the Fast‑Growing Shop Salesperson Profession

Shop salespersons have climbed to the fifth position among the fastest‑growing occupations, registering a net increase of 4.3 million new positions. Yet the overall picture is more complex, with a total rise of 10.4 million jobs offset by a downfall of 6.1 million, placing this role as the second most affected by job losses.

Underlying Dynamics

• Growth drivers: heightened demand for customer‑centric retail services and the integration of digital sales strategies.
• Decline factors: automation, e‑commerce expansion, and shifting consumer buying patterns.
• Industry evolution: the role is evolving toward multifunctional responsibilities requiring advanced communication and tech skills.

Other Top‑Growth Positions

In the broader employment landscape, University and Higher‑Education Teachers and Secondary Education Teachers also stand out:

• University teachers added 1.9 million new jobs.
• Secondary school teachers contributed an additional 1.6 million positions.

Summary

The rapid increase in shop salesperson roles, juxtaposed with significant job losses, underscores a shifting labor market. These trends reflect the necessity for evolving skill sets and a broader adaptation to the digital transformation of retail.

Cashiers and ticket clerks: One-Fifth of total losses

Major Decline in Clerk‑Related Employment by 2030

Forecasts predict the most significant workforce reductions in the clerical sector over the next five years, with almost a sixth of all projected job losses concentrated in cashier and ticket‑clerk roles.

Cashiers & Ticket Clerks

• Projected displacement: 16.3 million positions
• Percent of total job reductions: 18%
• Net loss after accounting for 2.7 million new openings: 13.7 million

Administrative Assistants & Executive Secretaries

These positions are slated to lose 6.1 million jobs, making them second only to cashier roles in the projected decline.

Other Sensitive Clerical Roles

• Material‑Recording & Stock‑Keeping Clerks: −2.64 million
• Accounting & Payroll Clerks: −1.65 million
• Data Entry Clerks: −0.5 million
• Graphic Designers: −0.36 million

Artificial intelligence innovations are accelerating these changes, especially evident in the diminishing demand for graphic designers.

Skillset Evolution

By 2030, it is estimated that 39% of workers’ current skill sets will either be transformed or rendered obsolete, underscoring the need for upskilling initiatives.