If You Have 1 of These 24 Jobs, You’re at the Highest Risk of Losing Work

While this year has been a year of unprecedented job loss, there are historical learnings we can lean on to better understand the impacts of the COVID-19 economy on our career trajectories. One such learning: The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employment Projections program, which was recently dissected by USA Today for insight into jobs' separation rates.

A separation rate is the annualized share of workers projected to leave the occupation, voluntarily or involuntarily. While a job's separation rate isn't a perfect indicator of an employees' likelihood to get laid off, it can offer a look into what jobs are the least stable — whether because they are physically or emotionally demanding and difficult to keep, whether they have shaky seasonality or whether they are disappearing from the economy altogether.  

Below, we've listed the 24 roles with the highest projected separation rates between 2018 and 2028. With COVID racking the industries many of these jobs are found within, their separation rates are likely to rise, making this information is even more pertinent to anyone currently in or considering one of these roles. 

24. Crossing Guard, 16.4%

23. Fitness and Aerobics Instructors, 16.6%

22. Recreation Workers, 16.6%

21. Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks, 16.9%

20. Models, 17.1%

19. Product Demonstrators or Promoters, 17.1%

18. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants, 17.1%

17. Choreographers, 17.3%

16. Dancers, 17.3%

15. Food Preparation Workers, 17.3%

14. Bartenders, 17.6%

13. Forest and Conservation Workers, 17.7%

12. Food Preparation and Service Workers, 17.8%

11. Gaming Change Persons and Booth Cashiers, 18.9%

10. Cashiers, 18.9%

9. Waiters, 19.2%

8. Motion Picture Projectionists, 19.3%

7. Counter Attendants (Coffee Shops, Food Concessions, etc.), 21.7%

6. Hosts, 22.9%

5. Costume Attendants, 23%

4. Locker Room, Coattroom and Dressing Room Attendants, 23%

3. Amusement and Recreation Attendants, 23%

2. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol and other Recreational Protective Service Workers, 24.1%

1. Ushers, Lobby Attendants and Ticket Takers, 24.3%