Working From Home

10Career Guidance and Job Search Strategies

As I write these words, 62% of the US workforce is working remotely – 80% of these folks started doing so since the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, according to a Salesforce survey (https://bit.ly/wfh-salesforceresearch1). Nearly 70% of US workers are interested in working remotely for the long term. In many industries, career change is the focus for about half of the population. From 47% of workers in manufacturing to 52% in hard‐hit sectors like transportation and hospitality, finding a new job is top of mind for many.

As I write these words, the unemployment rate continues in the double digits, and leading authorities state that the recent jobless rate of 14% is actually understated (https://bit.ly/wfh-understated). Indeed, Forbes senior contributor Chuck Jones says that the actual numbers are meeting or exceeding what was seen during the Great Depression (https://bit.ly/31id7Ef). Even the folks who are employed are still on shaky ground: 57% of millennials are concerned about losing their current positions.

As I write these words, it appears that industries like travel, tourism, and the restaurant industry may never be the same. That prediction goes for many other market segments as well. While the majority of the US workforce (53%) believe they could easily find a new position in their current role or industry, now is a difficult time to try those odds.

However, and this is a big “however,” there are opportunities in every economy. ...