The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that increasingly automated equipment and processes will result in slower than average employment for food batchmakers and bakers in manufacturing through 2022. There may be a slight increase in the need for bakers at retail locations because of the growing number of traditional bakeries and specialty shops, such as cookie, muffin, and bagel shops. Highly skilled bakers such as pastry chefs will be in strong demand because of the increased sales of specialty products. However, this may be offset by the emerging popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. Many current positions will become available as workers retire or change jobs.