Retail salespeople
In May 2025, BLS counted 3,897,860 retail salespeople, and it projects little or no change by 2035.
- 1974UPC barcode scanner
- 2018Cashierless stores
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General and operations managers
In May 2025, BLS counted 3,503,020 general and operations managers, and it projects 5% more by 2035.
- 1900Scientific management
- 1979Spreadsheet era
- 2023AI management layer
Registered nurses
In May 2025, BLS counted 3,379,720 registered nurses, and it projects 5.6% more by 2035.
- 1960Coronary Care Unit
- 1995Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA)
- 2023Ambient AI nursing scribes
Hand laborers and material movers
In May 2025, BLS counted 2,950,280 hand laborers and material movers, and it projects 1.8% more by 2035.
- 1917Clark Tructractor
- 1975OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178
- 2023Next-generation AI picking systems
Customer service representatives
In May 2025, BLS counted 2,595,750 customer service representatives, and it projects 5.3% fewer by 2035.
- 1951Direct Distance Dialing (DDD)
- 1983IVR
- 2024AI customer agents at scale
Waiters and waitresses
In May 2025, BLS counted 2,270,910 waiters and waitresses, and it projects 2% more by 2035.
- 1902Automat + cafeteria self-service
- 2020COVID QR menus + contactless payment
Janitors and building cleaners
In May 2025, BLS counted 2,209,760 janitors and building cleaners, and it projects 2.2% more by 2035.
- 1900Electric vacuum cleaner
- 1960OSHA compliance era
- 2018Commercial autonomous floor scrubber
General maintenance workers
In May 2025, BLS counted 1,529,700 general maintenance workers, and it projects 4.2% more by 2035.
- 1916Portable electric drill
- 1960Cordless tools
- 2011Predictive maintenance AI
Accountants and auditors
In May 2025, BLS counted 1,449,500 accountants and auditors, and it projects 5% more by 2035.
- 1920IBM punch-card tabulating machines
- 1979VisiCalc
- 2024Generative AI bookkeeping agents
Nursing assistants
In May 2025, BLS counted 1,448,910 nursing assistants, and it projects 2.6% more by 2035.
- 1946Manual care tools
- 2005Electronic health records at the bedside
Elementary school teachers
In May 2025, BLS counted 1,388,390 elementary school teachers, and it projects little or no change by 2035.
- 1887Mimeograph and ditto machine
- 1962Overhead projector
- 2022ChatGPT and AI lesson-prep tools
Security guards
In May 2025, BLS counted 1,283,470 security guards, and it projects 0.9% more by 2035.
- 1901Watchclock guard-tour system
- 1950Two-way radio / walkie-talkie
- 2016Knightscope K5 + Cobalt Robotics
Construction laborers
In May 2025, BLS counted 1,096,780 construction laborers, and it projects 7.3% more by 2035.
- 1870Steam-powered excavation
- 1920Internal combustion equipment
- 2016First-generation jobsite robotics
Lawyers
In May 2025, BLS counted 754,500 lawyers, and it projects 4.7% more by 2035.
- 1973LexisNexis
- 2023Full BigLaw AI stack
Production supervisors
In May 2025, BLS counted 673,430 production supervisors, and it projects 1.8% more by 2035.
- 1913Moving assembly line + standardized work
- 1990CNC proliferation + ERP systems
- 2022CHIPS Act + IRA reshoring
Childcare workers
In May 2025, BLS counted 518,910 childcare workers, and it projects 2% fewer by 2035.
- 1992Child care management software
- 2014Parent-communication apps
Social and human service assistants
In May 2025, BLS counted 437,860 social and human service assistants, and it projects 7.4% more by 2035.
- 1935Paper-based eligibility administration
- 1965Great Society program expansion
- 2000Electronic case management systems
Civil engineers
In May 2025, BLS counted 367,840 civil engineers, and it projects 6.4% more by 2035.
- 1999Building Information Modeling
Public relations specialists
In May 2025, BLS counted 283,380 public relations specialists, and it projects 1.8% more by 2035.
- 1982Fax machine and media database systems
- 2006Social media platforms
Farmworkers
In May 2025, BLS counted 265,500 farmworkers, and it projects 2.4% fewer by 2035.
- 1942Bracero Program
- 1986IRCA
- 2018Precision ag-robotics
Medical scientists
In May 2025, BLS counted 172,340 medical scientists, and it projects 12.6% more by 2035.
- 1953Molecular biology
- 2018AlphaFold v1→v2→v3
Operations research analysts
In May 2025, BLS counted 108,510 operations research analysts, and it projects 11.9% more by 2035.
- 2022LLM-augmented optimization
A different one of 22 jobs on each visit: the largest in each industry with a long cited record.
Curious? Start with a question.
Short answers from the record, each with its sources.
18 of 39 employed more
What happened to the jobs a 2013 study called most automatable?
Of the 39 jobs we track that a 2013 study scored 0.90 or higher for computerisation, 18 employed more people in May 2025 than in May 2013 and 21 fewer (BLS OEWS; change derived by Future History). A May 2021 BLS method change can account for part of a change.
Read the answer47
Which jobs barely existed in 1950?
47 jobs we track have no count from 1950 or earlier. The largest today is medical assistants: 817,870 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
Read the answer15 of 25
What do the sources say about AI and jobs?
BLS projects growth from 2025 to 2035 for 15 of the 25 largest jobs we track. AI studies measure exposure, which is not a forecast of job losses.
Read the answer249 grew
Which jobs grew and shrank since 2012?
BLS counts rose for 249 jobs and fell for 145 between May 2012 and May 2025 (change derived by Future History). A May 2021 BLS method change can account for part of a change.
Read the answerOr just wander
How we source
Every number links to its source
BLS, the Census, ONS, ABS, Statistics Canada and the published studies. How we source and check
Counted or estimated, you can tell
Solid dots were counted; hollow dots are cited estimates. Gaps stay gaps.
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No paywall, no AI risk score, no forecast of our own.