The Fastest-Disappearing Job In Illinois Before The Pandemic

For the life of me, I can't imagine that many people still doing this job.

It's been so long since I've considered "calling the operator" a thing.

I had to check with my son, who is nearly 15-years-old, to see if he knew what "call the operator" meant.

He told me he had no idea.

I guess that explains why Telephone Operator is one of the fastest-disappearing jobs in Illinois.

According to SmartAsset, in 2015 there were nearly 700 Telephone Operators in Illinois.

That number in 2019 dipped to just below 200, an 82% decline.

Now that we're living in the "new normal" due to the pandemic, you have to believe there are even fewer Telephone Operators positions available.

Telephone Operators experienced the sharpest drop in the study altogether. Utah had a 95% decline in Telephone Operator positions between 2015 and 2019.

I did check to see if there are any open positions for Telephone Operators in Illinois and found one at ComPsych. That's it. Sounds like a matter of time, before we reminisce about the good old days of "calling the operator."

Sweet Lenny is the brand manager of 97ZOK, Q98.5, and Operations Manager for Townsquare Media Rockford. Catch him afternoons 3 to 7 on 97ZOK. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and like his page on Facebook.