Today, that figure has fallen sharply.

The visualization, via Visual Capitalist's Pallavi Rao, compares how 100 hypothetical workers were distributed across occupations in 2002 versus 2024. It revealing which fields lost—or gained—share during a period marked by globalization, new technology, and a pandemic.

Office Work is Still the Most Common U.S. Job

Back-office roles were once the backbone of white-collar employment.

But widespread adoption of enterprise software—from automated invoicing to cloud-based scheduling—has pared back demand.

Note: Figures are rounded.

Between 2002 and 2024, Office & Administrative workers went from 18% of the employed workforce to 12%.

Even with the rise of hybrid work, clerical duties are increasingly handled by self-service portals and AI chatbots, leaving fewer traditional desk jobs.