Everyone likes a sense of stability, especially while working. But some jobs are less stable than others.
As employers try to cut expenses, layoffs have rocked certain industries. In other words, it has been dicey out there for many job seekers.
So if you're in the market for a new job, and one that will help you get ahead financially for the foreseeable future, you might want to avoid these. They have a low chance of growth over the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Make Money: 8 things to do if you're barely scraping by financially 1. Actors
The entertainment industry has always been a tough nut to crack, and while it’s recovering from the pandemic, it remains so.
Most actors struggle to find steady work. Many do something else to pay the bills while they search, and even fewer become stars.
Entry-level education required: Some college, no degree
10-year projected job growth: 3%
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2. Event planners
Being a meeting, convention, or event planner is definitely for the highly organized social butterflies out there. They’re in charge of every aspect of events and professional gatherings.
Event planning is demanding and requires people to be meticulous about deadlines.
Entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
Job growth over the next 10 years: 8%
3. Bill and account collectors
Bill and account collectors recover — or at least try to recover — money people owe on overdue bills.
It doesn’t pay well, the market is shrinking, and, as one can imagine, it becomes very stressful when people get angry and confrontational about their debts.
Entry-level education required: High school diploma or GED
Job growth over the next 10 years: -10% (Decline)
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Cashiers have a fairly thankless job. They’re there to ring you up after you’ve collected all the goods on your shopping trip. They can also be tasked with janitorial work for a store.
The pay is usually pretty bad, and the market outlook is grim.
Entry-level education required: None
10-year projected job growth: -10% (Decline)
5. Child care workers
People in child care help foster the development of future generations, but it’s difficult work, and the pay leaves much to be desired.
Sometimes, they work in dedicated centers, sometimes from their own homes, and the schedule can be all over the place.
Entry-level education required: High school diploma or GED
Job growth over the next 10 years: -2% (Decline)
6. Construction workers
Being a construction worker means hard hats and hard work. It’s a demanding, physical job.
Not only are they constructing the buildings people live, work, and play in, they do it in every kind of weather, at every time of day, under time constraints.
Entry-level education required: Usually none, but varies depending on the position
10-year projected job growth: 4%
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Every time you sit down for a delicious meal, thank a cook. If it’s on the menu, they can make it.
The job entails everything from making sure the ingredients are fresh to the tasty end result.
They also arrange the plates and clean the kitchen.
High stress is common and restaurants were hit hard by the pandemic.
Entry-level education required: Usually none, but varies depending on the position
Job growth over the next 10 years: 5%
8. Bartenders
Bartenders are booze royalty. They can work at pubs, hotels, restaurants, or anywhere that has a liquor license.
Unfortunately, the pay is awful, schedules can be hectic, and the pressure ramps up quickly when business gets busy.
Entry-level education required: None
Job growth over the next 10 years: 3%
9. Flight attendants
Along with restaurants, airlines were pulverized by the pandemic, but they’re on their way back. Since attendants take care of passenger needs on each flight, it can be demanding.
There’s stress, the inherent dangers of turbulence, and long periods of standing. Flight attendants spend a lot of time away from home as well.
Entry-level education required: High school diploma or GED
Job growth over the next 10 years: 11%
10. Hand laborers and material movers
Hand laborers and material movers are another critical part of the supply chain. They manually move the freight and stock that eventually makes it to store shelves.
The work is physically demanding, low-paying, repetitive, and, since shipping never stops, a round-the-clock affair.
Entry-level education required: None
Job growth over the next 10 years: 5%
11. Office clerks
Office clerks are tasked with everything from answering phones to filing records to typing up documents. They do a little bit of everything.
Clerks work in just about every industry imaginable, but the pay isn’t particularly great and the market is shrinking.
Entry-level education required: High school diploma or GED
Job growth over the next 10 years: -7% (Decline)
12. Photographers
Being a professional photographer is about more than just taking photos, and it can be extremely difficult. It requires a lot of creativity, technical knowledge, and a bank account that can handle buying a lot of equipment.
The pay isn’t great if you’re starting out, and some assignments can even be dangerous.
Entry-level education required: High school diploma or GED
Job growth over the next 10 years: 4%
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As the name implies, the goal of a recreation worker is to make sure people have fun while staying active and fit.
They design and lead programs in lots of places like parks, schools, and care facilities. Unfortunately, the pay is not good.
Entry-level education required: High school diploma or GED
Job growth over the next 10 years: 5%
14. Restaurant servers
Restaurant servers are the link between the kitchen and its patrons. They get your food, they get your drinks, and they do what they can to make sure people have a good experience.
The job can be hectic and stressful with an unpredictable work schedule, and the pay is predictably terrible.
Education required: None
Job growth over the next 10 years: -3% (Decline)
15. Telemarketers
There is a nonzero chance you’ve blocked a few numbers on your cell phone. That’s emblematic of telemarketing as a whole, where workers solicit potential customers by phone.
Even worse, the pay is terrible, the market is rapidly shrinking, and people simply don’t like getting unwanted calls.
Entry-level education required: None
Job growth over the next 10 years: -20.6% (Decline)
Bottom line
A good job doesn’t just help you stop living paycheck to paycheck and keep you happy, it also needs to be steady — something you’re not in fear of losing.
Downsizing and market volatility can hit every profession, but these jobs tend to take a bigger hit than others or are simply less reliable. If you’re looking for employment that will last, be careful with the jobs on this list.
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