Where Will You Find the Best Post-Pandemic Jobs?

As the world returns to normal in the wake of the coronavirus, some of us are looking for our own personal economic recovery. The pandemic was devastating to certain industries, and your job may have been among them.

On the bright side, certain regions and industries have created new opportunities. If you need a job, you need to know where to find these opportunities. Here's what experts say about the employment outlook as we go into recovery.

Economic Impact of the Coronavirus

The shutdown rules and quarantine orders affected millions of businesses. Small, independent restaurants, retail stores and businesses that cater to office workers all saw massive job losses. Many of those jobs will never come back.

After a sharp jump in unemployment rates at the start of the coronavirus crisis, unemployment rates have ticked down again. Overall, the virus caused the loss of around 23 million jobs in the US.

Worse Than the 2009 Recession

The effects were massive and widespread. According to the United Nations, the coronavirus shutdowns caused the loss of 225 million full-time jobs around the world.

Jobs in transportation, restaurants, entertainment, hospitality and retail were hit especially hard, but few industries were untouched. The UN said the impact was four times worse than the impact of the 2009 financial crisis.

Some Industries May Never Recover

These industries suffered the most job losses. It’s unlikely these jobs will come back quickly.

• Leisure and hospitality: More than 1 million jobs lost with a current 16.7% unemployment rate.
• Mining and extraction support positions: 13.1% unemployment rate.
• Travel and transportation: Truckers, railroad and airline employees have an 8.4% unemployment rate.
• Nonresidential construction: Commercial construction has an unemployment rate of 9.6%. Residential construction and home improvement, however, stayed strong.
• Motion picture and music industries: Hollywood suffered huge job losses.
• Personal services: Laundries, personal shoppers, and dry cleaners have an unemployment rate of 7.4%.
• Self-employed and freelance workers: Although some people advise laid-off workers to become self-employed, this sector actually lost jobs and has a 6.7% unemployment rate.
• Nursing: This was the only health-related field that lost jobs.

Will these industries come back? They will, but their growth will be slow. If you want a job, you’re better off looking at industries that show signs of growth in the post-pandemic recovery.

Signs of Hope: Where the New Jobs Are

It’s not all doom and gloom. With the development of the vaccine and the slow reopening of schools, the outlook for employment is showing signs of life.

The Economic Policy Institute predicts that three factors will lead to faster hiring in the second half of 2021. These three factors, they say, weren’t present during the 2009 recession:

• Consumers have a stronger financial cushion and a desire to start spending again.
• The pandemic didn’t destroy high-paying industries the way the financial crisis did.
• Government efforts seem to focus on stimulating the economy rather than conserving the budget.

Feeling Optimistic

Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, told the Associated Press, “I am not often optimistic, but I am optimistic now.”

There are signs it’s already happening. In fact, a report in The Hill found that many people who lost their jobs to the pandemic have found better-paying ones. The findings applied to both white-collar and blue-collar workers.

They found that more than half of all workers who were laid off found fulltime jobs that paid better than their old ones. Another interesting finding was that 16% of white-collar workers accepted blue-collar jobs and 24% of blue-collar workers found higher-paying white-collar jobs. All these new jobs were in essential occupations.

Where the Jobs Are: States with the Best Economic Recovery

According to a report by finance blog WalletHub, some states are showing employment growth already. The ten states creating the most jobs are:

1. South Dakota
2. Iowa
3. Nebraska
4. Vermont
5. Utah
6. Alabama
7. Arkansas
8. Montana
9. Wyoming
10. Indiana

Coming in at the bottom are Nevada, Colorado, and Hawaii.

If you live in a state that’s showing growth, you could find a job fairly soon. If you don’t, consider getting a job in an industry that’s showing signs of a comeback.

Where the Jobs Are: Industries That Show the Most Growth

Here are the industries experts say will show the best hiring opportunities in 2021:

• Retail stores
• Car dealerships
• Medical and dental offices
• Construction and trades
• Barbers and beauty salons
• School bus companies
• Office administrative
• Restaurant kitchen and delivery

How To Cope with Job Search Stress

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the stress of looking for work, take time every day to manage your stress. Here are some tips that can help you get through the tough weeks and months ahead.

• Maintain a regular schedule to feel like you're in control.
• Avoid obsessing over news reports. Limit your use of social media.
• Get regular exercise and eat fresh, healthy meals.
• Avoid excessive use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs.
• Get emotional support from friends, family, and support groups.

Make a Fresh Start with a New Job

Searching for a new job is never fun or easy, but the post-coronavirus job situation may be more promising than you think. Look for a job in an industry that shows steady growth and a bright future. You’ll be on your way to your own recovery before you know it.