Dive Brief:
- Comparing data from October 2020 to October 2019, HR generalist jobs dropped 37%, while sales managers, executive assistants, accounts payable specialists, event coordinators and educational instructors fell significantly as well, according to Nov. 19 research from Glassdoor.
- Some jobs, however, saw a lift in 2020: Glassdoor found that warehouse worker jobs were up 174% year over year while registered nurse jobs were up 51%, adding that "employers in e-commerce, health care and other front-line industries will likely continue to ramp up hiring in 2021."
- The workplace trends report also highlighted the high likelihood of continued remote and hybrid work and flexible scheduling, citing previous research, as well as the significant increase of candidate interest in diversity and inclusion. Glassdoor also predicted that changes in salary — based on economic conditions and where people decide to work — and culture rebuilding will be key priorities for employers.
Dive Insight:
The pandemic has created a harsh employment reality for many workers.
As soon as the outbreak took hold and places of business started shutting down, employers of all sizes laid off or furloughed employees at a rate not been seen since the 2007 recession. Unemployment reached a high of 14.7% in April as the pandemic disproportionately impacted vulnerable and underrepresented populations in the workforce, according to research from Global Disability Inclusion and numerous others. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia determined that COVID-19 is accelerating adoption of automation as well, particularly in jobs held by nonwhite individuals.
While many companies endured hard times recently, others grew rapidly during the pandemic. Workplace technology companies such as Slack and Zoom saw enormous increases in usage and are hiring as a result, and technology providers specific to recruiting also reported an increase in adoption due to COVID-19 responses. Many online learning providers likewise grew as employers saw a continuing need to train workforces, especially at this time.
