The Ten Growing and Dying Industries in the US

The Wall Street Journal compiles a list, from a study of IBIS World, of the rapidly growing industries, as well as, dying industries in the US.

First the sad news.

The Dying Industries

According to the WSJ Blog,

The dominance of the Web and digital media also puts Newspaper publishers, record stores and video-rental companies on the list. Meanwhile, photofinishing also takes its place among the top 10 dying industries thanks to the growing influence of digital photography.

Cheap imports are blamed for a decline in mills and apparel manufacturers. Companies that rent formal wear are also counted among dying industries amid both competition from abroad and lower prices making owning your own formal wear a more attractive option than renting.

The only clear recession casualty that makes the list is manufactured home dealers. The housing boom led to a surge in the industry, but now years after the bubble burst the sector has continued to struggle.

I have a different view from the political correct undertones of the above narrative.

The dying industries illustrates how the US economy has been evolving from commoditized (highly price sensitive) low value industries to high value technology based industries.

Now for the good news.

The Sunshine ‘Thriving’ Industries

Again the WSJ Blog

Unsurprisingly, the list is led by the tech and environmental sectors, which take up eight of the ten spots. There’s some good news for some of those in the top 10 dying industries. While wired telecom carriers dominated the dying list, voice over Internet protocol leads the list of thriving industries, illustrating the shift from one technology to another. Similarly, while newspaper publishers are among the dying industries, Internet publishers are counted with the thrivers.

Meanwhile, demographic shifts are also adding to the list of fastest-growing industries. Insurance-claims adjusters are in a growing sector as the Baby Boom generation ages. Unfortunately, a growing population also increases the need for prison guards, as correctional facilities make the list of thriving industries.

I observe two major factors from the fast expanding sectors:

One: creative destruction has been working her wonders.

Second: favored government sectors has been benefiting from political largesse.

As for creative destruction, let me quote Joseph Schumpeter Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy (1942) (p. 83)

The opening up of new markets, foreign or domestic, and the organizational development from the craft shop to such concerns as U.S. Steel illustrate the same process of industrial mutation—if I may use that biological term—that incessantly revolutionizes the economic structure from within, incessantly destroying the old one, incessantly creating a new one. This process of Creative Destruction is the essential fact about capitalism. [emphasis added]

Bottom line: Despite segments of cronyism, the dynamic process of ‘Creative Destruction’ plays a very substantial role in providing benefits to consumers.

In short, capitalism still weaves her magic despite the US government’s very visible hands.