Assessment · as of 20 September 2026
The American Red List
48 building and industrial trades measured against published federal data by a published rule. The rule is given in full so that any party may re-run it against the same sources and reach the same result, or reach a different one and say why.
3critically endangered
12endangered
8no occupation code reaches them
25currently viable
Model Makers, Wood
Critically endangered 51-7031
280
-3.3%
Patternmakers, Wood
Critically endangered 51-7032
220
-2.0%
Watch and Clock Repairers
Critically endangered 49-9064
1,310
-0.3%
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
Endangered 49-9061
1,650
-15.5%
Etchers and Engravers
Endangered 51-9194
7,750
-0.7%
Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Endangered 51-4071
12,790
-23.0%
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
Endangered 51-4061
2,610
-17.3%
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
Endangered 49-9063
5,380
+1.9%
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
Endangered 51-4062
1,470
-22.8%
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other
Endangered 49-9069
9,400
+2.5%
Prepress Technicians and Workers
Endangered 51-5111
23,840
-15.3%
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
Endangered 51-6041
7,450
-6.5%
Stonemasons
Endangered 47-2022
7,820
-5.4%
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
Endangered 47-2053
1,180
-13.0%
Upholsterers
Endangered 51-6093
20,140
-2.3%
Bookbinders
Not assessable no code
33,180
-17.5%
Coopers
Not assessable no code
—
—
Farriers
Not assessable no code
—
—
Gem and Diamond Workers
Not assessable no code
22,440
-3.2%
Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
Not assessable no code
33,190
+5.8%
Ornamental ironwork
Not assessable no code
—
—
Potters, Manufacturing
Not assessable no code
33,190
+5.8%
Roofers, slate/tile
Not assessable no code
—
—
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Currently viable 49-3011
138,090
+5.4%
Avionics Technicians
Currently viable 49-2091
18,830
+9.4%
Boilermakers
Currently viable 47-2011
10,190
-1.8%
Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Currently viable 47-2021
52,550
+1.1%
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Currently viable 51-7011
77,170
-2.9%
Carpenters
Currently viable 47-2031
670,090
+3.9%
Dental Laboratory Technicians
Currently viable 51-9081
34,410
-5.9%
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
Currently viable 47-4021
23,790
+5.7%
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Currently viable 51-9051
14,280
+2.6%
Glaziers
Currently viable 47-2121
58,480
+1.9%
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Currently viable 51-9071
22,440
-3.2%
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
Currently viable 49-9094
15,040
-11.7%
Machinists
Currently viable 51-4041
287,050
+1.0%
Medical Appliance Technicians
Currently viable 51-9082
11,280
+3.5%
Millwrights
Currently viable 49-9044
40,330
+0.9%
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Currently viable 51-9083
18,660
+2.2%
Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Currently viable 47-2161
19,310
+2.8%
Riggers
Currently viable 49-9096
22,530
+3.9%
Roofers
Currently viable 47-2181
135,490
+5.3%
Sheet Metal Workers
Currently viable 47-2211
119,770
+2.5%
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Currently viable 47-2221
68,380
+3.1%
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Currently viable 51-6052
13,920
-8.8%
Tool and Die Makers
Currently viable 51-4111
56,930
-9.2%
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Currently viable 51-4121
416,210
+2.4%
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Currently viable 51-7042
61,420
-2.5%
Columns: national employment, then ten-year projected change. A trade with no occupation code has neither, which is the finding rather than missing data.
Beyond the codes
Practices the federal series does not reach
Ten further named practices carry no occupation code of any kind. They appear in no employment series, no projection and no apprenticeship count, which is why the assessment cannot categorize them — and frequently why they are nearly gone.
| Practice | Why no code reaches it |
|---|---|
| Dye transfer color photographic printing | no occupation code at any level of detail; the process left commercial production in 1993 |
| Chilkat weaving | no occupation code; federal series does not reach named Indigenous weaving practices |
| Wabanaki ash splint basketmaking | no occupation code; federal series does not reach named Indigenous fiber practices |
| Cherokee rivercane doubleweave basketry | no occupation code; federal series does not reach named Indigenous fiber practices |
| Gullah sweetgrass coiled basket sewing | no occupation code; federal series does not reach named regional fiber practices |
| Hand scraping of machine tool ways | no occupation code; performed within Millwrights and Machinists without separate reporting |
| Precision optics fabrication | no occupation code; absorbed into broader production series without separate reporting |
| Historic window restoration | no occupation code; named by the National Trust as an acute shortage but not separately reported |
| Historic plaster repair | no occupation code; named by the National Trust as an acute shortage but not separately reported |
| Historic finish carpentry | no occupation code; named by the National Trust as an acute shortage but not separately reported |
Found an error? The assessment is a statement believed to be true and offered to be refuted. A correction from a practitioner of the trade assessed is published with attribution unless the practitioner asks otherwise.