What do the jobs in this list have in common?

[AviatorTom]

Below is a list of 68 jobs, broken down into 8 categories.

Do you know what these jobs have in common? Why is there a list of them?

Post your best guess in an opinion.

The correct answer will be revealed in a few days (Thursday).

Beverage & food service

• Bartenders
• Wait Staff
• Food Servers, Non-restaurant
• Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
• Chefs and Cooks
• Food Preparation Workers
• Fast Food and Counter Workers
• Dishwashers
• Host Staff, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
• Bakers

Entertainment & events

• Gambling Dealers
• Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers
• Gambling Cage Workers
• Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
• Dancers
• Musicians and Singers
• Disc Jockeys (except radio)
• Entertainers & performers
• Digital Content Creators
• Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
• Locker Room, Coatroom and Dressing Room Attendants

Hospitality & guest services

• Baggage Porters and Bellhops
• Concierges
• Hotel, Motel and Resort Desk Clerks
• Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Home Services

• Home Maintenance and Repair Workers
• Home Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
• Home Electricians
• Home Plumbers
• Home Heating/Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers
• Home Appliance Installers and Repairers
• Home Cleaning Service Workers
• Locksmiths
• Roadside Assistance Workers

Personal services

• Personal Care and Service Workers
• Private Event Planners
• Private Event and Portrait Photographers
• Private Event Videographers
• Event Officiants
• Pet Caretakers
• Tutors
• Nannies and Babysitters

Personal appearance & wellness

• Skincare Specialists
• Massage Therapists
• Barbers, Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
• Shampooers
• Manicurists and Pedicurists
• Eyebrow Threading and Waxing Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
• Tattoo Artists and Piercers
• Tailors
• Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

GaG limits the size here, so the last two categories are in an Update.

Updates

9 mo

Recreation & instruction
Golf Caddies
Self-Enrichment Teachers
Recreational and Tour Pilots
Tour Guides and Escorts
Travel Guides
Sports and Recreation Instructors
Transportation & delivery

Parking and Valet Attendants
Taxi and Rideshare Drivers and Chauffeurs
Shuttle Drivers
Goods Delivery People
Personal Vehicle and Equipment Cleaners
Private and Charter Bus Drivers
Water Taxi Operators and Charter Boat Workers
Rickshaw, Pedicab, and Carriage Drivers
Home Movers

Updates

9 mo

Interesting opinions.

These jobs all involve getting tips for service. In many cases, tips are a significant part of the worker's income.

They are the official list of jobs that are now exempt from paying income tax on tips in the US, thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill passed by the US Congress earlier this year.

[msc545]

All of the jobs in your list share some key characteristics — they are in-person, service-oriented, and often non-automated roles. Here’s a breakdown of what ties them together:

1. Direct Human Interaction
These roles require face-to-face or real-time interaction with people. Whether it’s serving food, styling hair, guiding a tour, or performing music, the essence of the work depends on social presence and interpersonal skills.

2. Experiential & Service-Based
They focus on providing an experience or personalized service, not just a product. A meal at a restaurant, a live performance, a hotel stay, or a fitness class — all are about delivering value through human connection and service.

3. Difficult to Automate or Digitize
Unlike purely digital or back-office jobs, these occupations rely heavily on physical presence, dexterity, and emotional intelligence. For example:

A bartender mixes drinks while chatting with patrons.
A massage therapist uses physical skill and attentiveness.
A tour guide adapts stories to the group’s mood and questions.
These qualities are hard to replicate with machines or remote-only services.

4. Gig, Freelance, and Shift-Oriented Nature
Many are not traditional 9-to-5 careers — they often involve:

Hourly or gig-based work (rideshare drivers, babysitters, event staff).
Freelance or self-employed setups (photographers, tattoo artists, fitness trainers).
Flexible, demand-driven schedules (catered to events, seasons, or tourism).
5. Personalized and Trust-Based
A lot of these roles involve trust and rapport. For instance:

Parents trust nannies with children.
Clients trust barbers or tattoo artists with their appearance.
Audiences trust entertainers to create a memorable experience.

6. Tied to Local Communities
Most of these jobs are place-based: restaurants, salons, gyms, hotels, homes, events. They can’t easily be outsourced or offshored — they need workers embedded in the local setting.

[exitseven]

It is not that complicated. All these jobs do not require a college degree

[msc545]

@exitseven They also do not pay much money as a result.

[Tarifa]

I think they all have a very direct relation with their clients or the people they take care of.

[Tarifa]

Interesting, but isn't that a US thing, getting tips for service? I mean, I'd rather have my boss pay me decent wages, instead of having to rely on clients' goodwill and accept my boss paying less than what he/she should.

[Fasam]

Tipped employment.

[OlderAndWiser]

They are all paid on an hourly basis?

[technicianmart]

All these jobs have one strong thing in common: they are "hands-on, people-driven services" that cannot be automated or fully replaced by technology. They rely on real skills, trust, timing, and human presence—often delivered on demand and locally. This list exists because these roles form the backbone of the service economy.

Opinion from :

[exitseven]

They are all in demand except for the elast one. Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers. Nobody gets their shoes repaired anymore. They throw them away and get a new crappy pair made in China.

[On_cloud_wine]

I know a cute hole in the wall family runned biz in Annapolis MD. Annapolis keeps them busy and they make good money. I love them so much. They’ve had my fancy belts tailored, boots.. they fixed my leather purse.. I go in there and I see them with their machines fixing shoes all the time. I guess if you have a lot of money, throwing out a pair of really nice shoes oit seems easier and more ideal but they can make them look brand spanking’ new again

[exitseven]

@On_cloud_wine I have a pair of Red Wing boots. I bought these made in USA boots 25 years ago and wear them a lot. I have had them resoled. They are not waterproof anymore but they still look good

[On_cloud_wine]

I buy water proof stuff at DSW.. my north face is ages old but I’ve been preserving it for a while because of this little gem

[lightbulb27]

they all involve standing on your feet at least at some point.

[MuddyMole]

They're all TEER 4 on Canada's NOC list, so probably whatever the US equivalent to that is...

[DryGermanGuy]

Are many or most of them of the „Latino persuasion“? 🤔😬

[CaptainSmartass]

They're immune from AI.

Simples...

[Awesomesauce2005]

What about being a disigner and metal fabricator/electronic control specialist like me?

[Awesomesauce2005]

Damn my phone keyboard

[Panthero80]

None of the above occupations require a four-year college degree.

[NoDecision]

They all have unions and jobs?

[mysteriousNicholas]

They wish 🥱😋😆 if that were true, Democrats would always win "the House" 😂 🏡

[OneViewpoint]

All service industry jobs.

[On_cloud_wine]

No college degree

[Xawyx-2]

They are all well paid?

[Xawyx-2]

Oh tips? We don't have them in Europe.

[Dongie]

Public service relations.

[noohair]

They are considered safe from AI

[beefcakebradybatson]

They're largely performed by POC.

[shortster]

None of them require a college degree?

[chrissykerdock]

public relted

[jimmy2]

None of them pay well

[CaptainSmartass]

The "home services" section is primarily made up of tradies. They're seriously well paid.

[mysteriousNicholas]

Poorly paid 😴😶

[mysteriousNicholas]

Not an executive at all - and I do not count assistants 📉📈🙃