9 Professions That Saw Most Job Losses in 2009
Architects, carpenters, construction workers among biggest losers
By Eve Tahmincioglu, msnbc.com contributor
It was the worst of times and it was the worst of times for many American workers this past year.
With 10 percent unemployment, 2009 draws to a close leaving millions of Americans without jobs. Even those who still have jobs feel beaten down. The recession took its toll in the form of job cuts, furloughs and wage and benefit reductions in just about every industry.
But there were a host of professions that took a beating this past year in terms of job losses, from carpenters to architects to production supervisors. Indeed, manufacturing and construction as a whole were hit hardest. There were also some you might not expect, including pilots and mechanical engineers.
Health care seemed to be the only industry adding jobs last year, said James Walker, a labor analyst for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
So which jobs were the biggest losers?
Here’s a rundown of occupations that were among the worst hit in 2009. (Data is from the BLS and looks at the employment picture through the third quarter of this year, the most recent occupational comparative data available.)
1. Architects
2. Carpenters
3. Production supervisors and assembly workers
4. Pilots
5. Computer software engineers
6. Mechanical engineers
7. Construction workers
8. Tellers
9. Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks
