Jobs and Careers Spring 2020 - 47

C O R O N AV I R US

A

t the start of 2020,
the UK's economic
future looked
rosy. Following
December's general
election, a majority
government promised stability and
an end to the years-long uncertainty
about Brexit. Experts predicted a
healthy environment for many forms
of industry and a period of growth.
We all know what happened next.
On 23rd March, prime minister Boris
Johnson announced measures to combat
the spread of the novel coronavirus
that emerged in late 2019. Schools
and shops were closed, and workers
were instructed to stay at home unless

lockdown. Whether for work purposes,
virtual pub quizzes or just face-to-face
chats, thousands started to use the likes
of ClickMeeting, GoToMeeting and
particularly Zoom - a company whose
stock rose 131% from January to April.
As offices start to be repopulated, people
will no doubt continue to use them to
comply with distancing guidelines - and
even after those end, meeting online may
prove preferable for many, saving time,
cost and the environment. Developing
this kind of technology looks set to be a
boom industry for some time to come.
Communication technology
remained crucial and continued to
perform strongly in the pandemic,
with a 10% share price rise across all

If you're a solutions person, capable of
viewing challenges from all angles and
coming up with effective answers, you
could find yourself in serious demand
absolutely necessary. As a result, many
people found themselves furloughed
from work, temporarily laid off or even
out of a job altogether. Almost a million
people applied for unemployment benefit
in the final two weeks of March, and
despite the positive start to the year
the economy was expected to drop by
35% in the second quarter of 2020.
But as the virus recedes, life will
begin to return to normal, and that
naturally includes working life. Different
industries have been affected in different
ways by the pandemic - some have even
thrived. The main thing to remember is
that like all crises, this one will pass; we
may see changes affecting workplaces,
but everyone needs and deserves
a rewarding career that motivates
them to get out of bed every day.

Words: Chris Miller

Surviving and thriving
Those involved in the manufacture,
sales and delivery of food were among
the most prominent workers who
were unable to stay at home and
instead proved how vital they were to
the nation's wellbeing. If you'd like a
secure career in an essential and stable
industry, this sector is one to consider.
Many of us became familiar with
videoconferencing software during the

mobile telecoms companies listed on
the FTSE in the first quarter of 2020.
Streaming services like Netflix and
Amazon Prime also saw their stock rise
as more people signed up and tuned
in. Amazon is another beneficiary
of the lockdown measures: with
most stores closed, shoppers turned
to the online retail giant in record
numbers. As many companies shed
staff, Amazon recruited thousands
around the world while also pledging
to raise wages for delivery drivers.
And during lockdown, many of us
showed our gratitude to essential workers

who kept the country going, such as
doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other
NHS staff, teachers, postal staff and care
home workers. While we can't promise
that these sectors will be better funded
or offer more lucrative careers than
they did before, it's more obvious than
ever how vital a function these workers
perform, and that such a career will
make you a true cornerstone of society.

Overcoming challenges
Of course, some sectors have suffered
particularly badly from the lockdown.
Airlines have laid off thousands of
staff and warned that the industry may
struggle to return to its pre-pandemic
state, as daily global flights dropped from
around 180,000 to 65,000 in a month.
And the hospitality industry may take
longer than most to emerge from the
restriction period, as people are wary of
eating out or visiting the pub or cinema
unless Covid-19 has been fully eradicated.
However, there will still be
opportunities in these sectors, not
least because they will be looking for
new and creative ways to overcome the
problems caused by the pandemic. If
you're a solutions person, capable of
viewing challenges from all angles and
coming up with effective answers, you
could find yourself in serious demand.
But even if that's not you, the reemergence of industry could present
the perfect opportunity for a new
career, whether you're just starting out
or feel it's time for a change. Life will
return to normal, resurgent companies
will need employees, and you've got
plenty of years ahead of you - so make
sure you're in the right place.

While we have made every effort to ensure the information in Jobs & Careers
is as accurate as possible, many of the figures and statistics will have been
affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, a given sector may not
have as many roles available as suggested thanks to layoffs and distancing
rules; similarly, stats from previous years, while true, may not be an accurate
reflection of employment or revenue trends in a particular industry in
2020. Whichever industry you're looking to enter, we recommend taking
a closer look at how healthy its future is expected to be, from researching
online to contacting industry bodies for more detailed information.

JOBS & CAREERS /// 47

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Jobs and Careers Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers Spring 2020
