5 jobs that may disappear in the next 25 years, according to Reader’s Digest

The future of work is not just about new careers emerging — it’s also about familiar ones fading away. Technological change driven by automation and artificial intelligence has already reshaped industries, and forecasts suggest that it will reshape many more over the next quarter-century. Roles rooted in routine, repetitive tasks — whether physical or cognitive — are most at risk of being supplanted by machines, algorithms, or both. 

A Reader’s Digest list highlights this pattern clearly: automation doesn’t just incrementally change work; it eliminates the need for some jobs entirely.

Longstanding occupations such as drivers and warehouse workers are already in the crosshairs of autonomous systems and robotics. Meanwhile, functions once seen as stable — such as payroll processing or ride-share driving — face pressure from software and digital platforms that can perform the same tasks with fewer errors and at lower cost. The drivers of these shifts aren’t just cheaper technology; they’re better machine learning, widespread data availability, and business incentives to optimize efficiency.

Here are five of the jobs most likely to disappear or transform profoundly in the next 25 years.

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Taxi, Uber $UBER, and other ride-share drivers are among the professions most at risk from self-driving technology, which promises to replace human steering and navigation entirely. The Reader’s Digest list cites taxi and ride-share drivers as one of the roles most likely to disappear as autonomous systems improve and scale. Autonomous vehicles eliminate the core value proposition of driver labor — human control — while offering predictable operating costs and round-the-clock availability. That same trend is already visible in truck fleets preparing for self-driving cargo haulers.

Even so, the timeline remains debated: full automation depends on regulation, infrastructure upgrades, and public adoption. But the trajectory is clear: the demand for human drivers is set to shrink dramatically as technology advances and deployment accelerates.

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Warehouse work — involving picking, packing, and sorting — is highly systematic, making it a prime target for automation. Reader’s Digest identifies warehouse workers as one of the jobs likely to disappear as robotics and AI streamline logistics operations. Companies such as Amazon $AMZN and other large retailers already use robots to move goods, track inventory, and prepare orders. These systems reduce errors and operate continuously without breaks, cutting labor costs and increasing throughput.

For many businesses, fully automated warehouses are not futuristic; they are a competitive necessity. As a result, the role of human workers in these environments is shifting toward oversight and maintenance, which requires more technical skills and fewer repetitive tasks.

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Routine administrative roles such as payroll clerks are also under threat. The Reader’s Digest list includes payroll processing functions among jobs that might vanish, replaced by more sophisticated accounting and HR software. Payroll systems can already calculate wages, withhold taxes, and comply with regulatory changes with minimal human intervention. As software becomes smarter and more integrated with enterprise data systems, the need for a dedicated human payroll clerk diminishes.

Automation here doesn’t simply increase speed; it lowers errors that can be costly for companies in compliance and finance. The next wave of software will further reduce manual oversight.

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Delivery drivers — including those transporting parcels for e-commerce — share the automation risk faced by ride-share drivers. The Reader’s Digest list groups these roles under driving occupations that may disappear as autonomous delivery systems and drones become more capable. Companies are testing driverless vans and drones for last-mile deliveries to reduce costs and accelerate service. As these technologies mature, they undercut the labor value of human drivers in delivery networks.

This isn’t speculative: pilot programs in many countries are already underway. If autonomous delivery proves reliable and cost-effective, entire job categories in logistics could shrink.

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Finally, tasks such as payroll and basic accounting have low barriers to automation and are common casualties of digital transformation. The Reader’s Digest list notes that payroll and related administrative tasks are likely to disappear as software assumes these functions. This isn’t limited to basic payroll: many firms deploy machine learning tools that flag anomalies, forecast expenses, and manage regulatory reporting. These systems outperform manual processes in both speed and accuracy.

As this automation spreads, roles centered on transactional financial tasks will decline, pushing workers toward analytical or supervisory work requiring deeper judgement.