Recent research suggests that nearly half of Canadians are considering changing jobs or careers as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc.
Nearly half of Canadians are considering the possibility of a job or career change. This is according to Morneau Shepell’s most recent Mental Health Index, which is showing a consistent negative mental health score among Canadians for the eighth consecutive month.
“Worsening psychological health, an increase in employment dissatisfaction and extended mental strain”
The findings, according to a brief, show that “worsening psychological health, an increase in employment dissatisfaction and extended mental strain continue to impact the mental wellbeing of Canadians.”
The pandemic has shattered any illusion of security we might have had and thrown us into a state of fear and uncertainty. Many who have lost jobs have no idea what the future holds, and those supposedly on temporary layoff or furlough are having to look for work on the sly, lest the employers stringing them along (if sometimes inadvertently) discover they’re looking and give them the official pink slip, meaning they’ve now lost their income and their benefits.
It’s no wonder so many people are thinking about changing jobs or careers.
45% of Canadians might consider a job or career change
Overall, 24% of survey respondents indicated that the pandemic has led them to consider a job or career change and another 20% are undecided, meaning that 45% of Canadians are at least thinking about a career change. Thirty-six per cent of respondents under the age of 40 said they are considering a job/career change, compared to only 15 per cent of respondents over the age of 50. The other 55% are not considering a change right now.
“We’re at a pivotal point in navigating the pandemic. On one hand, the recent news about potentially life-saving vaccines being administered in the first half of next year should bring Canadians some encouragement. On the other hand, we are also approaching some of the most difficult months of the year for many Canadians as we approach the holidays and winter months,” said Stephen Liptrap, Morneau Shepell’s president and CEO, in a statement. “Information overload will continue to be an issue in the coming months. Employers cannot assume that all employees are feeling positive about the new pandemic-related developments and must continue to check in on their wellbeing to maintain a productive workforce.”
Other employment-related findings are that 18% of workers say their view of their employer has worsened since the pandemic started and 12% say it has become more positive. Seventy-two per cent of employees say their employers are handling health and safety well, while just 7% believe it’s being handled poorly. Sixty-three per cent of employees believe their employer is handling technology well, 56% believe their employer is handling flexible work hours well, and 50% believe their employer is handling work-from-home policies well.
The jobs of the future
It’s difficult to say exactly what jobs will be available in a future world, but if you are considering a change, the World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report listed the top emerging jobs, or jobs that are expected to see the most growth over the next five years, as well as the jobs expected to see the biggest decrease in demand. These projections are for between now and 2025, and it should surprise no one that all of the top 10 jobs are technology related.
The 10 jobs projected to see the biggest increase demand between now and 2025:
Data analysts and scientists
AI and machine learning specialists
Big data specialists
Digital marketing and strategy specialists
Process automation specialists
Business development professionals
Digital transformation specialists
Information security analysts
Software/applications developers
Internet of things specialists
The 10 jobs projected to see the biggest decrease in demand between now and 2025:
Data entry clerks
Administrative and executive secretaries
Payroll and bookkeeping clerks
Accountants & auditors
Assembly and factory workers
Business services and administration managers
Client information and customer service workers
General and operations managers
Mechanics and machinery repairers
Stock-keeping clerks
If everyone is looking for work, competition in the job market may be even more fierce than it is now. Use your time wisely and upskill for the future.
Consider the skilled trades
Or, if you’re considering changing jobs or careers, you might think about the trades. While mechanics are listed as a career decreasing in demand here, some types of mechanics may remain in demand. For more on in-demand skilled trades, read this:
https://blog.careerbeacon.com/high-paying-in-demand-skilled-trades-fit-for-a-covid-career-change/