TRENTON, NJ – In a state once known for its diners, drive-ins, and daily paper deliveries, New Jerseyans have spoken — they want the paperboy back.
A new survey of 3,014 residents ages 45 and older revealed that the humble newspaper carrier topped the list of “lost jobs” locals most wish would return.
The poll, conducted by resume.io, asked participants which now-vanished professions they miss most in an era when automation and digital technology have reshaped nearly every aspect of working life.
The results paint a wistful portrait of simpler days — when the morning news hit your porch with a thud and customer service came with conversation instead of an algorithm.
New Jersey’s most-missed jobs
The top ten nostalgic jobs New Jersey residents say they miss most start with the paperboy, followed by video-rental clerk, door-to-door encyclopedia salesperson, full service gas-station attendant, and toll-booth collector. Rounding out the list are VHS repair technician, record-store clerk, film developer, switchboard operator, and typist.
Each role carries a slice of Americana that progress quietly replaced. Paperboys once learned punctuality and responsibility before sunrise. Video clerks mixed movie knowledge with matchmaking charm. Gas attendants filled tanks and windshields, not just fuel. And toll-booth collectors made small talk at 40 miles an hour — human touchpoints that vanished with E-ZPass and automation.
Here are the lost jobs New Jerseyans have most nostalgia for:
#1 Paperboy
Rain, shine, or broken bike chain — they delivered your morning headlines before breakfast. A generation learned responsibility (and forearm strength) tossing rolled-up newspapers onto porches.
#2 Video-rental clerk
They were part movie critic, part matchmaker. You would walk in for Die Hard and somehow leave with The Notebook — “Trust me, you’ll thank me later.” Their secret power? Remembering your late fees and your favorite genre — the original algorithm, only with better banter.
#3 Door-to-door encyclopedia salesperson
The original content marketers. They lugged knowledge from doorstep to doorstep, selling not just books, but the dream of having a “smart” home long before Alexa.
#4 Gas-station attendant
Once upon a time, when you went to a gas station, the attendant did more than fill your tank. They cleaned your windshield, topped up your oil, and asked about your weekend. It was customer service with a side of conversation and motor oil.
#5 Toll-booth collector
Before E-ZPass, you would toss a handful of change and maybe get a smile or a weather update in return. These roadside sentinels saw America one quarter at a time — and gave a human face to the phrase “thank you, drive safe.”
#6 VHS repair technician
The surgeon of tangled tape. They wielded screwdrivers and rewinding machines like tools of salvation — because your sister would not forgive you for breaking The Little Mermaid again.
#7 Record-store clerk
Cooler than anyone you knew, with an encyclopedic knowledge of B-sides and attitude to match. They judged your taste but also helped shape it — a cultural gatekeeper before playlists made everyone a DJ.
#8 Film developer
They saw your life one awkward vacation photo at a time. Waiting three days to see if your eyes were open in the group shot? That was patience — and mystery — the digital age will never recapture.
#9 Switchboard operator
“Connecting you now…” They made the world go round with a tangle of wires and perfect diction. A walking, talking network before Wi-Fi and smartphones replaced human connection with a literal connection.
#10 Typist
They turned dictation into documents, powered by caffeine and rhythmic keystrokes. Their work sounded like productivity itself — a satisfying clatter we now fake with keyboard sound effects.
Old office relics that New Jerseyans remember most
Survey respondents were also asked which bygone office gadget they remember most fondly. The clack of the typewriter led the list at 30 percent, followed by the smell of fresh photocopies (26 percent), the Rolodex (23 percent), fax machine (15 percent), and dot-matrix printer (6 percent).
These forgotten tools once defined workplace rhythm and ritual — from the tactile satisfaction of typing to the scent of warm toner that meant someone, somewhere, was getting things done.
Retro tech people would bring back for a week
When asked which office relic they’d revive temporarily, 28 percent chose the typewriter, citing its focus and permanence. Pagers followed at 27 percent, offering a nostalgia for a time when messages could wait. The overhead projector (21 percent), in-tray/out-tray (17 percent), and dictaphone (7 percent) also made the cut.
Survey organizers noted that many participants said the nostalgia wasn’t just for the gadgets or jobs themselves, but for the slower pace and tangible sense of purpose they represented.
The decade of choice: the 1980s
Asked which era of work they’d most like to revisit, 42 percent of New Jersey respondents chose the 1980s — the decade of fax tones, briefcases, and ambition loud enough to echo through glass offices. The 1990s followed at 23 percent, the 1950s at 19 percent, and the 1970s at 16 percent.
While none of these jobs are likely to make a comeback, the poll suggests that what New Jerseyans really miss isn’t just the paperboy — it’s the human connection that once came with every knock on the door, phone call, and morning delivery.
A new survey shows New Jerseyans most miss the paperboy and other vanished jobs that once defined everyday life.