- Since 2000, the US has lost 2.1 million administrative and office support jobs, The Washington Post reported.
- But this change extends beyond administrative assistants: As globalization and automation continues to affect American workers, jobs in construction, manufacturing, and the food service industry are also disappearing.
- We broke down the fastest-disappearing jobs in every US state.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Secretary jobs are disappearing.
These roles, which were once considered stable positions for women without college degrees, have taken a significant downturn over the last nine years. Labor Department data indicate the US has shed more than 2.1 million administrative and office support jobs since 2000, The Washington Post reported.
But this change extends beyond administrative assistants – it also includes the disappearance of telemarketers, substitute teachers, and farmworkers.
The workforce is changing in every state in America. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics program, we compared total employment levels for occupations in each state in May 2013 and May 2018, the latter being the most recently available data.
We found the occupation with at least 5,000 employees in May 2013 that had the biggest percent drop in employment over the five-year period. Since we are interested in how specific occupations have changed over time, we excluded the "all other" occupational catch-all groups used by the BLS.
Here are the fastest-disappearing jobs in every US state.
Ivan De Luce contributed to an earlier version of this post.
Alabama: Bill and account collectors had a 54% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,260
2018 employment: 2,850
2018 median salary: $32,920
What they do, according to O*NET: Bill and account collectors collect overdue bills, either by mail or telephone, and contact credit departments if customers don't respond.
Alaska: Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers had a 49% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,040
2018 employment: 2,550
2018 median salary: $23,220
What they do, according to O*NET: Meat cutters cut meat by hand, usually to portion quantities of fish, poultry or other meat for customers.
Arizona: Substitute teachers had a 74% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 11,880
2018 employment: 3,030
2018 median salary: $28,700
What they do, according to BLS: Substitute teachers temporarily fill in for full-time teachers, usually for single days at a time.
Arkansas: Fast-food cooks had a 63% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 10,660
2018 employment: 3,950
2018 median salary: $19,650
What they do, according to O*NET: Fast food cooks prepare food in fast food restaurants, usually by frying simple dishes.
California: Word processors and typists had a 69% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 25,310
2018 employment: 7,790
2018 median salary: $42,900
What they do, according to O*NET: Word processors and typists use computers to type documents like letters, reports, or voice recording transcripts.
Colorado: Telemarketers had a 42% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 7,500
2018 employment: 4,370
2018 median salary: $27,060
What they do, according to O*NET: Telemarketers call potential customers to solicit donations or purchases of goods.
Connecticut: Sales representatives for wholesale and manufacturing (as well as technical and scientific products) had a 52% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,040
2018 employment: 2,870
2018 median salary: $91,160
What they do, according to O*NET: Sales representatives sell goods over the phone to industry-specific companies, which may require knowledge of science, engineering or electronics, depending on the company.
Delaware: Laborers and movers (freight, stock, and materials) had a 29% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,970
2018 employment: 4,960
2018 median salary: $27,050
What they do, according to O*NET: Laborers perform any sort of general labor, including moving freight or boxes.
District of Columbia: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants had a 40% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 9,340
2018 employment: 5,600
2018 median salary: $69,830
What they do, according to O*NET: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants organize conference calls, schedule meetings, and take care care of other clerical functions and administrative support.
Florida: Farmworkers and laborers (crop, nursery, and greenhouse) had a 50% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 21,340
2018 employment: 10,670
2018 median salary: $22,210
What they do, according to O*NET: Farmworkers plant, cultivate, and harvest crops like vegetables, fruits, and nuts. They also operate farm equipment as well as performing manual labor with tools like shovels, hoes, and shears.
Georgia: Substitute teachers had a 61% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 26,960
2018 employment: 10,390
2018 median salary: $22,860
What they do, according to BLS: Substitute teachers temporarily fill in for full-time teachers, usually for single days at a time.
Hawaii: General office clerks had a 28% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 14,440
2018 employment: 10,440
2018 median salary: $33,180
What they do, according to O*NET: Office clerks perform clerical duties, which include a wide range of tasks: assisting customers in person, filing documents, answering the phone, and answering emails.
Idaho: Secretaries and administrative assistants (except legal, medical, and executive) had a 5% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 10,240
2018 employment: 9,760
2018 median salary: $32,080
What they do, according to O*NET: Secretaries and administrative assistants schedule appointments, meetings, and answer phones for their managers, among other clerical duties.
Illinois: Graduate teaching assistants had a 72% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 10,920
2018 employment: 3,070
2018 median salary: $37,740
What they do, according to O*NET: Graduate teaching assistants assist professors with teaching-related duties like grading tests and papers, tutoring students, and occasionally teaching lessons.
Indiana: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants had a 46% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 12,130
2018 employment: 6,540
2018 median salary: $48,230
What they do, according to O*NET: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants organize conference calls, schedule meetings, and take care care of other clerical functions and administrative support.
Iowa: Packers and packagers had a 69% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 12,400
2018 employment: 3,790
2018 median salary: $28,990
What they do, according to O*NET: Packers and packagers package manufactured products either in factories or warehouses.
Kansas: Home health aides had a 65% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,700
2018 employment: 2,320
2018 median salary: $23,890
What they do, according to O*NET: Home health aides take care of patients in their homes by applying medications, bathing, and dressing patients.
Kentucky: Helpers of production workers had a 53% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 11,910
2018 employment: 5,650
2018 median salary: $28,560
What they do, according to O*NET: Helpers assist factory workers by cleaning equipment or holding workers' tools.
Louisiana: Service unit operators (oil, gas, and mining) had a 61% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,520
2018 employment: 2,180
2018 median salary: $51,100
What they do, according to O*NET: Service unit operators increase oil flow from wells, or make sure there aren't any pipes or tools in the way of drilling.
Maine: Elementary-school teachers (except special education) had a 22% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,880
2018 employment: 5,390
2018 median salary: $52,680
What they do, according to O*NET: Elementary school teachers teach children from Kindergarten to 5th grade.
Maryland: Special-education teachers in middle school had a 51% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,690
2018 employment: 3,280
2018 median salary: $72,000
What they do, according to O*NET: Middle school special education teachers teach middle school children with educational or physical disabilities.
Massachusetts: Psychiatric technicians had a 73% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 7,250
2018 employment: 1,930
2018 median salary: $44,220
What they do, according to O*NET: Psychiatric technicians take care of people with mental or emotional conditions, according to instructions from doctors, and they report to hospital medical staff.
Michigan: Chief executives had a 75% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 10,430
2018 employment: 2,620
2018 median salary: $203,290
What they do, according to O*NET: Chief executives run companies by making large-scale business decisions, along with a board of directors or a team of other executives.
Minnesota: Slaughterers and meat packers had a 49% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 8,190
2018 employment: 4,140
2018 median salary: $31,920
What they do, according to O*NET: Slaughterers and meat packers slaughter animals, and prepare cuts of meat for packaging to consumers or to processing companies.
Mississippi: Counter attendants in cafeterias and coffee shops had a 68% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,960
2018 employment: 1,910
2018 median salary: $18,240
What they do, according to O*NET: Counter attendants serve food to customers from counters or steam tables.
Missouri: Order clerks had a 47% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,250
2018 employment: 2,800
2018 median salary: $32,460
What they do, according to O*NET: Order clerks receive orders from customers for shipping materials or products, either by email or phone.
Montana: Secretaries and administrative assistants (except legal, medical, and executive) had a 44% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 10,440
2018 employment: 5,840
2018 median salary: $32,860
What they do, according to O*NET: Secretaries and administrative assistants schedule appointments, meetings, and answer phones for their managers, among other clerical duties.
Nebraska: Fast-food cooks had a 55% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,800
2018 employment: 2,630
2018 median salary: $20,980
What they do, according to O*NET: Fast food cooks prepare food in fast food restaurants, usually by frying simple dishes.
Nevada: Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks had a 26% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 8,130
2018 employment: 5,990
2018 median salary: $33,410
What they do, according to O*NET: Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks keep track of shipping records for various products and prepare them for shipping.
New Hampshire: Elementary school teachers (except special education teachers) had a 16% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,670
2018 employment: 5,620
2018 median salary: $58,240
What they do, according to O*NET: Elementary school teachers teach children from Kindergarten to 5th grade.
New Jersey: Sales representatives for wholesale and manufacturing (as well as technical and scientific products) had a 70% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 11,330
2018 employment: 3,370
2018 median salary: $87,040
What they do, according to O*NET: Sales representatives sell goods over the phone to industry-specific companies, which may require knowledge of science, engineering or electronics, depending on the company.
New Mexico: Fast-food cooks had a 55% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,100
2018 employment: 2,280
2018 median salary: $19,800
What they do, according to O*NET: Fast food cooks prepare food in fast food restaurants, usually by frying simple dishes.
New York: Real-estate agents had a 60% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 12,170
2018 employment: 4,870
2018 median salary: $99,360
What they do, according to O*NET: Real estate sales agents rent, buy, or sell property for clients, which includes keeping track of property listings, interviewing potential buyers, and drawing up real estate contracts.
North Carolina: Telemarketers had a 57% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,020
2018 employment: 2,170
2018 median salary: $24,550
What they do, according to O*NET: Telemarketers call potential customers to solicit donations or purchases of goods.
North Dakota: Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks had a 36% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 8,100
2018 employment: 5,150
2018 median salary: $37,650
What they do, according to O*NET: Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks keep track of numerical data for taxes and other financial purposes.
Ohio: Machine feeders and offbearers had a 55% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,170
2018 employment: 2,310
2018 median salary: $31,200
What they do, according to O*NET: Machine feeders and offbearers feed materials into factory machines or equipment.
Oklahoma: Helpers of production workers had a 56% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,740
2018 employment: 2,940
2018 median salary: $29,240
What they do, according to O*NET: Helpers assist factory workers by cleaning equipment or holding workers' tools.
Oregon: Substitute teachers had a 60% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 12,770
2018 employment: 5,090
2018 median salary: $46,160
What they do, according to BLS: Substitute teachers temporarily fill in for full-time teachers, usually for single days at a time.
Pennsylvania: Short-order cooks had a 73% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 7,810
2018 employment: 2,130
2018 median salary: $26,520
What they do, according to O*NET: Short order cooks prepare simple, quick food in restaurants or diners, and may also take orders from customers.
Rhode Island: First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers had a 15% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,600
2018 employment: 4,770
2018 median salary: $61,080
What they do, according to O*NET: First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers supervise customer support workers, usually in call centers.
South Carolina: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants had a 32% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,840
2018 employment: 3,990
2018 median salary: $53,360
What they do, according to O*NET: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants organize conference calls, schedule meetings, and take care care of other clerical functions and administrative support.
South Dakota: Stock clerks and order fillers had a 13% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 6,250
2018 employment: 5,440
2018 median salary: $24,820
What they do, according to O*NET: Stock clerks organize shelves and tables of merchandise in stores and stockrooms.
Tennessee: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants had a 60% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 14,740
2018 employment: 5,870
2018 median salary: $50,460
What they do, according to O*NET: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants organize conference calls, schedule meetings, and take care care of other clerical functions and administrative support.
Texas: Computer-hardware engineers had a 76% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 8,890
2018 employment: 2,170
2018 median salary: $116,290
What they do, according to O*NET: Computer hardware engineers design and develop hardware for computers, either for commercial or industrial use.
Utah: Substitute teachers had a 56% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 11,550
2018 employment: 5,030
2018 median salary: $29,530
What they do, according to BLS: Substitute teachers temporarily fill in for full-time teachers, usually for single days at a time.
Vermont: Teacher assistants had a 13% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,570
2018 employment: 4,820
2018 median salary: $31,700
What they do, according to O*NET: Teacher assistants assist teachers in classrooms, sometimes as part of a career path to become teachers themselves.
Virginia: Data-entry keyers had a 38% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,020
2018 employment: 3,120
2018 median salary: $34,100
What they do, according to O*NET: Data entry keyers verify data and input it into computers for several types of industries.
Washington: Telemarketers had a 81% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,390
2018 employment: 1,050
2018 median salary: $33,560
What they do, according to O*NET: Telemarketers call potential customers to solicit donations or purchases of goods.
West Virginia: General office clerks had a 33% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 28,340
2018 employment: 19,110
2018 median salary: $26,650
What they do, according to O*NET: Office clerks perform clerical duties, which include a wide range of tasks: assisting customers in person, filing documents, answering the phone, and answering emails.
Wisconsin: Machine feeders and offbearers had a 61% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,080
2018 employment: 1,960
2018 median salary: $29,980
What they do, according to O*NET: Machine feeders and offbearers feed materials into factory machines or equipment.
Wyoming: Operating engineers and other construction-equipment operators had a 28% decline in employment between 2013 and 2018.
2013 employment: 5,850
2018 employment: 4,240
2018 median salary: $57,630
What they do, according to O*NET: Operating engineers operate construction equipment, such as bulldozers, tractors, front-end loaders, or compressors at construction sites.
