The Amazing, Colossal, Disappearing Job Market!

With the economy being what it is (in the toilet, I mean) and the Republicans in charge and demonstrating admirable bipartisanship by pledging to block every single action in Congress until they get their way, you have to wonder with some trepidation what the future has in store. Well, at least there's one part of the future you won't have to wonder about: Yahoo Finance has examined the data contained in the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and published a helpful list of high-paying jobs with no future. It's an interesting list, and some of the jobs on it are surprising (to me, at least)...

Judges. The BLS predicts that by 2018, there will be 700 fewer jobs for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates, than there were in 2008. This is due mainly to budget cuts, but since the average tenure for a judge is 14 years, turnover is slower than molasses in January...not to mention that many judges don't leave their positions for better-paying private industry jobs, because those jobs aren't there.

Economists. More than half of all economists in this country work for governments at all levels, and with the economy in the tank and jobs being cut, who better to go on the block than the economists ... who can't agree on what to do about the problems, anyhow. You know the old joke...if all the economists in the world were laid end-to-end, they'd never reach a conclusion.

Broadcast Announcers. This one really hurt. I love radio and tremendously enjoyed the nine years I spent doing my show ("The Audio Attic") on the local public access radio station, and it would be nice to think that I could, eventually, get back into broadcasting. As with so many other occupations, though, technology and economics are conspiring to eliminate jobs for broadcasters (or RPs - radio personalities - as we used to call ourselves). The BLS predicts that by 2018, the broadcast industry will lose 2,400 radio and TV announcer jobs.

Insurance Underwriters. Going, going, nearly gone...software can do the job faster and cheaper. According to the BLS, 4,300 underwriting jobs will vanish by 2018.

And,

Newspaper Reporters. The Internet has undercut the traditional newspaper industry. Reporters are expensive, print advertising is way down, and when a smaller number of lesser-trained and experienced people can just mine the online world for the latest news, who needs a fully-staffed newsroom? 4,400 reporting jobs are expected to disappear by 2018.

Unfortunately, the jobs I'd most like to see on the list are missing. I'd very much like to see a dismal employment future for:

Politicians. If you're looking for value-added in government, don't look here.

Lobbyists. The economy may be a smoldering wreck, but there are still plenty of jobs available for people to single-mindedly push their special interests.

And,

Talking Heads. We have entirely too many over-opinionated, under-informed ass clowns shouting their opinions on television and the radio. Too bad they seem to proliferate like mildew in a poorly-ventilated basement.

Good luck with your own job. Don't look for Congress to help you out much with keeping it.

Have a good day. Demand better from those you elect to serve you. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo