Vanishing jobs

While total employment is expected to increase by 15.3 million, or 10 percent, from 2008 to 2018, the number of jobs in certain industries will decrease significantly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here’s a look at some of America’s disappearing professions.

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Pharmacy aides

Pharmacy aides are tasked with performing clerical work, such as answering phones and ensuring that the shelves are stocked. The median salary of a pharmacy aide in 2008 was $20,100 and the total number of employees for this job was 54,900. The projected change for the pharmacy aide position from 2008 to 2018 is a decrease of 6.29 percent.

Danny Johnston / AP

Reporters and correspondents

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini talks to reporters following the first day of fall NCAA college football camp on Aug. 6. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reporters and correspondents held about 61,600 jobs in 2008 and had a median salary of $34,850. Employment of these workers is expected to decrease 7.62 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Dave Weaver / AP

Farmers and ranchers

A rancher looks over his cattle in northeast Oregon at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains. Farmers and ranchers held 985,900 jobs in 2008 and had a median salary of $33,550. Employment of farmers and ranchers is expected to decrease 8.03 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Rick Bowmer / AP

Door-to-door sales worker

A salesperson with RCN holds his briefcase tight in 2005 as he goes door-to-door in Silver Spring in hopes of signing folks up for Internet, cable and/or telephone services. Door-to-door sales workers held 181,600 jobs in 2008 and had a median salary of $20,990. Employment for these workers is expected to decrease 14.79 percent.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Bookbinders and bindery workers

DeLea Sayers, a commercial printer by trade, puts the finishing details on the spine of a leather-bound book in 2006. There were 66,500 bookbinders in 2008, but the number of jobs for these workers is expected to drop 19.34 percent by 2018.

Tim Sharp / AP

Chemical plant and system operators

A construction project is in progress outside a chemical plant in Texas. Chemical plant and system operators held 45,100 jobs in 2008 and earned a median salary of $52,480. The projected change for these jobs between 2008 and 2018 is a decrease of 20.6 percent.

Pat Sullivan / AP

U.S. Postal Service mail sorters

A postal worker prepares to sort mail at the U.S. Post Office sort center in San Francisco in 2009. In 2008, mail sorters held 179,900 jobs and earned a median salary of $50,020. The projected change for these positions from 2008 to 2018 is a decrease of 30.32 percent.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Sewing machine operators

Sewing machine operators held 212, 400 jobs in 2008 and received a median salary of $19,870. The projected change for these jobs between 2008 and 2018 is a decrease of 33.66 percent.

Rich Schultz / AP

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