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The Telephone Was Supposed to End Those Jobs. Six in 10 Jobs in 2018 Did Not Exist in 1940.

Company operators fell from 290,000 to 189,200 as dial took the calls. The census still found new work.

Noor Mohammad

8 min read3 hours ago

Press enter or click to view image in full size A rotary phone and a dark smartphone on a wooden desk. The type is the census finding: six in ten jobs in 2018 did not exist in 1940.

A rotary phone and a dark smartphone on a wooden desk. The type is the census finding: six in ten jobs in 2018 did not exist in 1940. Image by the author using Grok.

Company switchboards still paid 290,000 operators in 1953. By 1963 that payroll was 189,200, and the local call was already going through a machine.

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