Declining STEM Careers 2025: What’s Out

Not all STEM careers are future-proof. In fact there are a lot of declining STEM careers as of 2025. Routine IT support, clerical roles, and semi-skilled mechanical jobs are being replaced by automation and robotics. See what’s out in 2025 and how to adapt

The STEM career landscape is changing in 2025, and sadly, not every role will survive the shift. Technology, automation, and evolving industry needs are phasing out certain jobs faster than many expected. If your career path lies in one of these declining STEM careers, it may be time to think about reskilling.

Some STEM jobs are fading fast

1. Routine IT Support

Helpdesk tickets, password resets, and first-line troubleshooting are increasingly handled by AI chatbots and self-service platforms. According to a 2024 report by Nearshore Americas, the demand for traditional tech support roles is shrinking as automation takes hold. Entry-level IT officers who don’t upskill into cloud or cybersecurity risk being sidelined.

2. Legacy System Maintenance

Industries that once relied on COBOL and outdated databases are modernizing. Maintaining these systems may still keep a handful of specialists busy, but opportunities are rapidly drying up. Businesses are migrating to cloud-native solutions, meaning jobs tied to obsolete technologies are fading out.

3. Clerical & Admin in STEM

Data entry, repetitive reporting, and basic documentation are now being automated. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 lists clerical and administrative support as one of the fastest-declining job categories. In STEM industries, dashboards and analytics tools are cutting down the need for human reporting.

4. Degrees Without Skills

Credentials alone no longer open doors. Employers are moving toward skills-based hiring, especially in AI and green tech. A recent study (arXiv, 2023) notes companies are dropping strict degree requirements in favor of portfolios and demonstrable projects. Simply holding a degree or diploma isn’t enough, you need to prove that you can do the work.

5. Semi-Skilled Mechanical Roles

On the factory floor, repetitive assembly and routine maintenance jobs are being replaced by robotics and industrial automation. What once required teams of technicians can now be done by a single robotic arm. Without retraining in robotics programming, automation control, or advanced diagnostics, workers in this space face shrinking opportunities.

6. The Trade Skills Comeback

While some white-collar STEM roles are fading, skilled trades are enjoying a resurgence. Rising tuition fees, student debt, and a tightening job market are pushing many graduates in the U.S. and beyond — even at places like UCLA — to seek additional vocational training right after completing expensive degrees.

At the same time, many students are skipping university altogether and heading straight into technical training in fields like carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, welding, and renewable energy installation. These are roles that robots can’t easily replace, because they require hands-on adaptability, problem-solving, and local expertise.

This is a global shift: as automation takes over repetitive tasks, the value of practical, skilled human labor is climbing higher than many expected. In fact, trades are becoming some of the most future-proof and in-demand careers of all.

Key Takeaway

The message is simple: don’t anchor your career in yesterday’s skills. If you find yourself in one of these categories, start planning for change now. Reskilling into fields like cloud, cybersecurity, green engineering, or data science could be the difference between being left behind — or moving forward.

But don’t overlook the trades: sometimes the smartest path to a secure future lies in skilled, hands-on work that technology can support but never fully replace.