12 US Industries That Will Collapse In The Next Decade

80,700 jobs in 2010

68,800 jobs in 2020

-1.6% annual job growth

Glass production and sales have steadily declined over the past five years, likely stemming from the the slump in local automotive manufacturing and the long-term substitution of glass containers in the food and beverage-packaging market with alternative materials, such as plastic.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

153,200 jobs in 2010

130,500 jobs in 2020

-1.6% annual job growth

The manufacture of powered tools for shaping metal parts has experienced a decline as demand from key foreign and domestic downstream markets has dropped. 

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

266,000 jobs in 2010

210,300 jobs in 2020

-2.3% annual job growth 

This category includes a wide range of products that are increasingly being manufactured in China, including: medical equipment, jewelry and flatware, sporting and athletic goods, dolls, toys, and games, office supplies, signs, concrete burial vaults, Christmas tree ornaments, Christmas tree lighting sets, beauty and barber chairs, burnt wood articles, lamp shades, matches, metal combs, and electric hair clippers.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

76,600 jobs in 2010

60,200 jobs in 2020

-2.4% annual job growth

This BLS projection comes from 2012, before the $85 billion in forced budget cuts known as sequestration. In any case the post-recession outlook for federal jobs is negative.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

35,300 jobs in 2010

27,500 jobs in 2020

-2.5% annual job growth 

Increased environmental regulations (such as the banning of certain pesticides) and improvements in technology and automation will reduce the number of workers in chemical manufacturing over the next decade. 

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

36,400 jobs in 2010

28,100 jobs in 2020

-2.5% annual job growth

Jobs in the metal ore mining industry may continue to disappear as domestic mining companies compete with fast-growing industries in developing countries, where mines are less depleted and less restricted by environmental regulations. 

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

42,400 jobs in 2010

32,600 jobs in 2020

-2.6% annual job growth 

Apparently US demand for installing and maintaining pipelines is declining. We expect this may change if the Keystone Pipeline is cleared for construction.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

161,600 jobs in 2010

117,500 jobs in 2020

-3.1% annual job growth

Despite growing consumer demand for PCs and tablets, globalization has made US manufacturing less attractive, as manufacturing facilities move to Asia. Apple's new plan to hire a ton of people in Silicon Valley and do more manufacturing in the U.S. may partially reverse this trend.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

118,000 jobs in 2010

85,700 jobs in 2020

-3.1% annual job growth

As with computers, this stuff can be made more cheaply abroad.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

656,400 jobs in 2010

474,600 jobs in 2020

-3.2% annual job growth

After the Postal Service lost $11.6 billion last year, it announced plans to eliminate 150,000 jobs by 2016. Congress is still considering cutting Saturday delivery, but even that may not be enough to save the ailing agency.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

27,800 jobs in 2010

12,700 jobs in 2020

-7.6% annual job growth 

These are hard times for the U.S. leather industry. Falling demand from auto, footwear and furniture manufacturers have caused major declines in revenue. Price-conscious consumers have also begun to favor substitute products made from cheaper materials, such as vinyl and plastic. Overseas competition is hurting here too, as with all manufacturing.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

157,700 jobs in 2010

66,100 jobs in 2020

-8.3% annual job growth 

Clothing manufacturing, which includes knitting and sewing garments, has significantly underperformed most sectors of the economy, due to massive competition from imports. The number of apparel knitting firms has declined at an average annual rate of 5.4% since 2007 and is expected to continue its downward trajectory at an average of 1.5% per year through 2017.

2010 data and 2020 projections from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012).

14 US Industries That Will Boom In The Next Decade >