The Covid-19 pandemic impacted different aspects of life, from the economy to schools and personal lives. Schools had to be shut down, delaying exams and admissions. Offices also had to switch to remote working conditions because of the state-imposed lockdowns in so many countries. During this time, the economy was hit hard, but some industries remained resilient. The world of work was changed, and some sectors happen to be in stronger positions than others.
According to CV-Library, job vacancies in the United Kingdom alone fell by 62.7% by 2020’s second quarter. This made the application-to-job ratio rise by 84%. Considering this drop in job vacancies, we can determine where opportunities may be shrinking or increasing. Many companies wound up while others grew and needed more staff despite the Covid-19 outbreak. Below are some resilient industries that do not face an uncertain future in the near term.
IT and Digital Technology
With a large chunk of the world recovering from the effects of the virus on the economy, tech companies experienced a boom as more people turned to their platforms for work and pleasure. Currently, there are thousands of open positions on the Microsoft website for different jobs, while other top companies like Slack and Zoom were still hiring at the peak of the pandemic. From web developers to software and cybersecurity engineers, the sector is expanding.
Digital skills are required in all industries, from e-commerce to automating processes in factories. This growth is encouraging because it shows that web development and IT professional roles are growing. These roles are considered essential to help businesses adapt. This has made more people consider switching to tech careers. To meet the demand, skills training boot camps are rising. For instance, bootcamprankings.com provides resources for people who want to learn to code. Besides offering a good remuneration, tech jobs also offer a place in the future when the industrial revolution takes place.
Delivery Drivers
Since the lockdown in March 2020, online shopping became more popular than ever. Governments encouraged more people to shop online to promote social distancing. This move increased the demand for employees in the sector. For instance, Amazon created 15,000 plus delivery driver and warehouse jobs on both full-time and part-time basis. These employees were sent to fulfillment centers to help process orders and handle the logistics network.
Grocery Retail/Supermarket
With restaurants and pubs being restricted or closed, more people were eating at home, which increased grocery demand. Supermarkets took on over 50,000 workers at the peak of the pandemic. There were temporary jobs and full-time jobs as well. This increase was noticed in different areas such as shelf refilling, online order processing from new warehouses, and logistics sending the food deliveries out to customers.
Lorry Drivers
According to a REC survey, there has been a high demand for large-goods vehicle drivers throughout the peak of the pandemic. As the demand for food deliveries grows, there is also a demand for food to be moved from place to place to satisfy these orders. Employers were also looking out for people that can build and repair vehicles. According to the REC, those who can build vehicles and repair them are also being sought by employers.
Hardest-hit Industries During the Pandemic
The tourism sector was one of the worst-hit during the lockdowns. International tourist arrivals dropped by 72% around the globe, according to Statista. With the cases of Covid rising in 2021, it will take a while before the tourism sector can be reanimated. In April 2020, around 12,000 employees lost their British Airways jobs, while Virgin Atlantic cut around 3,500 staff. Many countries banned flight from high infection areas such as the UK and South Africa to contain the outbreak. The event industry also took a hit with the new social distancing rules. Several exhibitions had to be canceled or taken online.
Conclusion
The pandemic changed a lot when it comes to the way business is done. Sadly, many businesses could not stay above water. Industries like the tech and the consumer sectors were a few of the most successful ones. Tech fields such as web development and software engineering were at the forefront as the demand for their services grew exponentially.
