College

According to the table, which profession is expected to lose the highest percentage of jobs?

A. Postal service mail carriers
B. Data entry keyers
C. Sewing machine operators
D. Postal service clerks

[tex]
\[
\begin{array}{|l|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
\text{Profession} & \text{2019 (in thousands)} & \text{2029 (in thousands)} & \text{Change (in thousands)} & \text{Percentage Change} & \text{Median Annual Wage} \\
\hline
\begin{array}{l}
\text{Farmers, ranchers, and} \\
\text{other agricultural managers}
\end{array} & 930.6 & 750.7 & -179.9 & -19.3 & \$69,300 \\
\hline
\text{Postal service mail carriers} & 295.1 & 215.8 & -79.2 & -26.8 & \$56,490 \\
\hline
\text{Data entry keyers} & 220.3 & 166.1 & -54.2 & -24.6 & \$28,010 \\
\hline
\text{Sewing machine operators} & 161.4 & 119.7 & -41.7 & -25.8 & \$21,270 \\
\hline
\begin{array}{l}
\text{Postal service mail sorters,} \\
\text{processors, and processing} \\
\text{machine operators}
\end{array} & 129.6 & 91.0 & -38.6 & -29.8 & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\begin{array}{l}
\text{Farmworkers and laborers,} \\
\text{crop, nursery,} \\
\text{and greenhouse}
\end{array} & 596.8 & 567.6 & -29.2 & -4.9 & \$18,670 \\
\hline
\begin{array}{l}
\text{Word processors} \\
\text{and typists}
\end{array} & 104.4 & 78.2 & -26.2 & -25.1 & \$35,270 \\
\hline
\text{Postal service clerks} & 66.9 & 45.7 & -21.3 & -31.8 & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\end{array}
\]
[/tex]

Answer :

We are given the percentage changes for four different professions:

[tex]$$
\begin{array}{rcl}
\text{Postal service mail carriers} & : & -26.8\% \\
\text{Data entry keyers} & : & -24.6\% \\
\text{Sewing machine operators} & : & -25.8\% \\
\text{Postal service clerks} & : & -31.8\%
\end{array}
$$[/tex]

To determine which profession is expected to lose the highest percentage of jobs, we compare these percentages. A higher percentage loss means the number has a lower (more negative) value.

Comparing the values:

- [tex]$-26.8\%$[/tex] for postal service mail carriers
- [tex]$-24.6\%$[/tex] for data entry keyers
- [tex]$-25.8\%$[/tex] for sewing machine operators
- [tex]$-31.8\%$[/tex] for postal service clerks

The most negative percentage is [tex]$-31.8\%$[/tex], which is associated with postal service clerks.

Thus, the profession expected to lose the highest percentage of jobs is:

[tex]$$\textbf{Postal service clerks}.$$[/tex]