American Employment Market Overview
The yet to be contained global pandemic has impacted all aspects of human life in the whole world. Almost every family is feeling the heat of the COVID-19 crisis, whether directly or indirectly. However, reports are emerging from various research centers suggesting there could be some light at the end of the tunnel after all.
As the world economies try to recover, it might present a perfect timing to get a job if you were let go by your former employer.
This piece elaborates further on the American employment market.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducted studies that indicated that in June, the US labor markets boomed. The report revealed that there were more than 220,000 new job opportunities in June. The employment market performed much better than economists had anticipated.
These revelations presented a glimmer of hope among the Americans after the jobs market performed poorly in May, rekindling memories of the great recession.
The biggest contributor to the labor market boom was the professional and business services sector. The BLS reported that these sectors contributed up to 51,000 jobs. Other sectors that reported huge numbers are the warehousing, transport, and healthcare.
However, even as businesses reopen and the Federal Government uses strategies such as the stimulus program to minimize the pandemic’s effects, there are still unresolved issues.
As the world continues to fight the invisible enemy, there are states whose economies have been choked by the pandemic. For instance, states that rely on tourism and hospitality industries are still grappling with high unemployment rates.
Another challenge businesses face as they reopen is the new measures that the states have adopted to contain the virus. Some of the measures like social distancing mean that businesses have to rethink their working protocols.
In some industries, it is possible to work from home despite the challenges. Studies conducted by the BLS revealed that some employees did not have the infrastructure to work efficiently from home. For instance, working from your dining table might not be as ergonomic as your office desk. Furthermore, companies might not be willing to invest in the infrastructure it needs to coordinate activities by employees working remotely.
For some sectors in the economy, working from home is not practical. In sectors like the hospitality industry, where the core business is based on human interaction, there are still challenges. Others are the manufacturing industry whose operations demand the presence of the workers.
Future job opportunities require you to work from home, at least for industries where it is possible. Life after this pandemic will be different from what we knew. For instance, some businesses might have discovered during this pandemic that their employees can work remotely and remain efficient.
For employees whose jobs demand their physical presence like in manufacturing plants, there will be new protocols. To achieve social distancing, their employers must rethink their daily routines.
As more industries find a way to navigate the current challenges, you should expect more job opportunities to emerge. However, even as you return to work, it might be business unusual.
