Service station attendants rank among the jobs that have declined the most over the past 25 years, data from Infometrics has shown.
77% of these roles—equating to 5,557 jobs—have disappeared.
Telephone betting clerks also saw a reduction, declining by 86%. Footwear production machine operators decreased by 82%, postal sorting officers by 76%, and mail clerks by 71%.
Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said several notable changes were evident, emphasising the evolving composition of the New Zealand workforce.
“However, many of those roles have evolved into the following nearby grouping covering contract administrator, programme or project administrator, office manager, health practice manager, and practice managers — up from 25,543 to 74,634 over the same period.”
Professor Jarrod Haar of Massey University believes technological evolution has reshaped the workforce.
Machines have become more affordable and efficient, leading to a decreased need for human workers in certain roles.
Looking ahead, artificial intelligence is anticipated to be the next major force driving changes in the workforce. Haar noted that AI is already transforming data entry jobs by performing tasks that were once exclusively done by humans.
Haar advised that the best approach for employees is to add value in any way they can.