List of obsolete occupations
This is a list of obsolete occupations. To be included in this list an occupation must be completely, or to a great extent, obsolete. For example, there are still a few lamplighters retained for ceremonial or tourist purposes, but in the main the occupation is now obsolete. Similarly, there are still some manual switchboard operators and elevator operators which are required for historic equipment or security reasons, but these are now considered to be obsolete occupations. Occupations which appear to be obsolete in industrialized countries may still be carried out commercially in other parts of the world, for example charcoal burner.
To be included in this list an obsolete occupation should in the past have employed significant numbers of workers. Some rare occupations are included in this list, but only if they have notable practitioners, for example alchemist or phrenologist.
Terms which describe groups of people carrying out a variety of roles, but which are not specific occupations, are excluded from this list even if they are obsolete, for example conquistador or retinue. Terms describing positions which have a modern equivalent, and are thus not obsolete occupations, are excluded from this list, for example a dragoman would now be termed a diplomat; similarly a cunning woman would now be termed a practitioner of folk medicine. Terms describing a state of being rather than an occupation are excluded, for example castrato. Specialist terms for an occupation, even if they are obsolete, are excluded, for example the numerous historic terms for cavalry and courtesan. Foreign language terms for existing occupations are excluded, for example korobeinik or Laukkuryssä which are types of peddler. All types of forced labour, such as slavery and penal labour are excluded from this list as they are not paid occupations.
Only occupations which are notable, well-defined, and adequately documented in secondary sources are included in this list.
Reasons for occupations to become obsolete
An occupation may become obsolete for a single reason, or for a combination of reasons. Reasons for occupations to become obsolete fall into a number of groups.;Cultural or fashion change
The services or products provided by the occupation were made unappealing by cultural changes, including changes in prevalent aesthetic preferences.
For example hoop skirt and crinoline manufacturers were significant employers in the 1850s and 1860s but they declined significantly in later years as fashions changed.
;Child work
Many forms of child work are now considered unacceptable. Following the elimination of much child labour, many more children could attend school.
For instance, climbing boys became unacceptable because of the danger to children involved in the job.
;Debunked
The fundamental assumptions behind the occupation were proved wrong, as occurred with superseded scientific theories.
;Economic change
The occupation was made inefficient by changes in the market or other economic factors.
;Environmental change
Changing natural factors made the occupation less useful or impossible, often as a direct consequence of the activity itself.
For example, the trading of ivory has become heavily restricted over recent decades, especially in the Western world, following the international CITES agreement and local legislation, which has put ivory carvers out of work.
;Legal, political and regulatory change
The occupation was outlawed, or changes in governance, law or politics caused its disappearance or decline.
For example the Victorian-era law that made available more cadavers to medical schools, thus signalling the death-knell to body snatchers. Another example of a political change causing job obsolescence is the disappearance of the workhouse as a way of dealing with the poor.
;Social change
The occupation was displaced by transformations of social roles or was made useless by other social changes.
;Technological, scientific and process efficiency change
The occupation was displaced by technological innovation, with more effective or efficient ways for the same need representing the central focus of the product or service delivered by the occupation.
Historical examples are making lime in factories on a large scale rather than by lime-burners on a small scale and the continuous changes in occupations in the textile industry in the 19th century as a result of mechanization.
In recent times, the workplace impact of artificial intelligence has arisen as a concern for widespread job changes and/or decline.
List of obsolete occupations
The table lists information about obsolete occupationsKey: Common occupation Rare occupation