Experts predict that the United Arab Emirates will add more new jobs in the coming months and years. Population growth and the growth of several sectors are a major part of that change. Certain medical and personal care occupations will increase by at least 50% with the aging of the young population and their growing needs. Nevertheless, other jobs will shrink significantly.
Changes in population and technology also will result in certain jobs declining considerably or even disappearing. We found 5 job categories that will decline or even face extinction in the coming years. These are UAE’s top 5 disappearing jobs.
The occupation category of the postal service workers will likely lose more jobs than other categories. The evolution and growing use of digital communication has had a negative impact on delivered mail. Therefore, downsizing of the postal employees may be a smart strategy for the postal services operators. There will be more serious declines within particular postal jobs. Post office mail sorters, processors and processing machine operators are being replaced by more efficient mail sorting machines, and their numbers are expected to shrink significantly.
5. Desktop Publishers
Desktop publishers work for the publishing or printing industry. They use computer programs to design layouts for print media. The outlook for this job is gloomy because the print industry is declining and other workers can easily assume some of the functions of this position. This position usually requires an associate’s degree and the median income for desktop publishers is slightly above the average. Desktop publishers who have skills in HTML have a much better job outlook. These individuals may work as web developers, a job that is projected to grow exponential over the next decade.
4. Printing Press Technicians and Workers
Printing press technicians and workers prepare printings by creating printing plates from texts and images. The number of such jobs will shrink dramatically, as printing processes increasingly rely on computer software. For other printing professions that rely less on newer technology job losses are projected to be smaller.
3. Textile Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders
Over the next decade all types of textile machine setting, operating and tending positions are projected to decrease workforce significantly, especially cutting machine workers. The number of knitting and weaving machine workers is projected to shrink as well. Generally, the total number of textile machine workers is projected to decrease and all textile, apparel and furnishing workers will find difficulties to hold their jobs.
2. Communications Operators
Communications equipment operators generally are telephone operators who provide customers with directory or billing information, or switchboard operators who relay calls. The number of telephone operators may shrink significantly, while the number of switchboard operators will increase over the same time frame.
1. Postal Service Workers
It is not news to anyone that the situation of Postal Service globally is not rosy. In Dubai, in particular, the postal services are very expensive and therefore many hesitate using it. A regular post box rental costs as much as 320Dhs to rent an annual basis and still remains unaffordable service for many. On the other hand, more workers and many jobs will be replaced by machines to save money on salaries and benefits. The number of mail sorters and processors will likely decrease since their functions are being automated. Also, there will be a significant decline in the number of postal service clerks caused by the drop in priority mail use. Postal workers are considered government employees, and that is why their wages and benefits are quite good for the lack of an education requirement.
