Here Are 15 Jobs That No Longer Exist In The World

Many occupations that were commonplace in the past no longer exist on resumes today. Some disappeared due to advancing technology, while others were phased out due to improved labor laws.

While technology has added countless jobs to the workforce over the past century, from network administrators to the Insta-famous, it’s also made a host of professions obsolete along the way. Some people that once held jobs that were considered essential may find themselves out of work

Jobs have popped up and waned throughout the course of human history, and oftentimes, it has been for the better.

In the 21st century, the challenge of choosing a career means finding an area involving skills and knowledge that will remain relevant and will not be taken over by robots as automation becomes ever more sophisticated.

1. Bowling Pin Setter

Bowling alley pinsetters were young boys employed at bowling alleys to set up the pins for clients. Generally, a job reserved for teenagers, the lowly paid bowling pinsetter job was the norm before automated pinsetters were introduced in the 1950s.

2. Human Alarm Clock

Knocker-uppers were essentially alarm clocks; they were hired to ensure that people would wake up on time for their own jobs. Some form of the alarm clock has been around since 400(ish). They would use sticks, clubs or pebbles to knock on clients’ windows and doors

3. Ice Cutter

When reliable refrigeration and freezing didn’t yet exist, ice cutters were tasked with cutting up the ice on frozen lakes. To do this, they would score the ice and then use a horse-powered device to cut the ice block free. Nowadays, the trade is reserved for the artistic pursuit of ice sculpting only

4. Pre-radar Listener

Before radar, troops used acoustic mirrors and listening devices to focus and detect the sound of engines from approaching aircraft. Between the world wars, there were a variety of acoustic mirror devices that were used to help army’s detect enemy radar

5. Rat Catcher

Rat-catchers were once employed to control rat populations and prevent the spread of disease. They kept the public safe while bearing the risk of bites and infection themselves.

6. Lamplighter

Before electric street lights, a lamplighter would go around town extinguishing and lighting gas-burning street lamps. When cities replaced gas lamps with electric light bulbs, lamplighters became jobless. The only lamplighters today exist purely for tourist purposes, but before the 19th century night, owl lamplighters were responsible for lighting the streets.

7. Milkmen

Most households used to rely on local milkmen to deliver milk right to their door. When home refrigerators became common, the milkman’s services were no longer needed. Milkman hasn’t been a common job since the 1970s, though in some places it is seeing a revival.

8. Log Driver

Before the technology or infrastructure was available to transport logs by truck, log drivers would float and guide them down rivers from logging sites to processing areas. This highly dangerous job became less common as railroads and trucking routes became more efficient

9. Switchboard Operator

The earliest telephones were extremely difficult to use, so telephone companies hired switchboard operators to assist with connecting customers. Switchboard operation was an early example of women entering the workforce, as their “courteous manner” was deemed more suitable to this type of role.

10. Resurrectionist

One of the more gruesome extinct jobs is that of The Resurrectionist. Resurrectionists, or “body snatchers,” were hired in the 19th century to remove corpses from graves for universities to use as cadavers.

11. Soda Jerk

A job as a soda jerk was ideal for many young people during the 20th century. Youths could often be found handling soda spigots while wearing bow ties and white paper hats as they served up ice cream and soda drinks to order

12. Factory Lector

Before the radio, factory workers often hired lectors to entertain them while they worked. The workers pooled their wages, held auditions, and had lectors read to them over their long shifts.

13. Leech collector

A leech collector was responsible for retrieving the blood-sucking worms from their natural habitat for doctors to use. Individuals with this job would use the legs of animals or their own legs to lure leeches from creeks and rivers.

14. Pinsetter

In the early 1900s, young men were hired as pinsetters in bowling alleys to reset the bowling pins after they had been knocked down by bowling balls. After a bowler would take a turn, the pinsetter would jump into a pit, clear the downed pins, and roll the ball back to the bowler.

15. Elevator operator

Elevator operators would greet guests and shuffle patrons from floor to floor, but they have gone extinct as people are now choosing to press their own elevator buttons.

Read More: Here Is A List Of Top 16 Highest Paying Jobs In The World