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

\[
\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline
\text{Profession} & \text{2020 Jobs (in thousands)} & \text{2030 Jobs (in thousands)} & \text{Change (in thousands)} & \text{Percent Change} & \text{Median Annual Wage} \\
\hline
\text{Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers} & 930.6 & 750.7 & -179.9 & -19.3\% & \$69,300 \\
\hline
\text{Postal service mail carriers} & 295.1 & 215.8 & -79.2 & -26.8\% & \$56,490 \\
\hline
\text{Data entry keyers} & 220.3 & 166.1 & -54.2 & -24.6\% & \$28,010 \\
\hline
\text{Sewing machine operators} & 161.4 & 119.7 & -41.7 & -25.8\% & \$21,270 \\
\hline
\text{Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators} & 129.6 & 91.0 & -38.6 & -29.8\% & \$53,090 \\
\hline
\text{Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse} & 596.8 & 567.6 & -29.2 & -4.9\% & \$18,670 \\
\hline
\text{Word processors and typists} & 104.4 & 78.2 & -26.2 & -25.1\% & \$35,270 \\
\hline
\text{Postal service clerks} & 66.9 & 45.7 & -21.3 & -32.2\% & \\
\hline
\end{array}
\]

Answer :

First, note that we are comparing the percentage change values supplied for the professions. The values given for each option are:

- For postal service mail carriers:
[tex]$$-26.8\%$$[/tex]
- For data entry keyers:
[tex]$$-24.6\%$$[/tex]
- For sewing machine operators:
[tex]$$-25.8\%$$[/tex]
- For postal service clerks: no percentage is provided.

Since a more negative percentage indicates a greater loss, we compare the negative values:

1. [tex]$$-26.8\%$$[/tex] for postal service mail carriers,
2. [tex]$$-25.8\%$$[/tex] for sewing machine operators,
3. [tex]$$-24.6\%$$[/tex] for data entry keyers.

The most negative value among these is [tex]$$-26.8\%$$[/tex]. Therefore, the profession expected to lose the highest percentage of jobs is postal service mail carriers.