Looking Ahead to 2021: Trends on the Horizon

The year 2020 brought about massive societal changes across the world in ways few could have predicted in 2019. Looking ahead to 2021, it is clear to see that the Coronavirus epidemic defined many of the global social and economic currents, and will continue to have an influence, even after measures such as social distancing are eased.

Remote Work Becomes a Standard Way of “Going to Work” for Many

During the Pandemic, millions became accustomed to working remotely for extended periods of time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 1/5 of all workers Several workers have enjoyed the flexibility and convivence that telework provides, and seek to continue working remotely fully or partially following the pandemic-related restrictions.

It is worth noting that the corporate culture between organizations can have an influence on how open management is towards remote workers; as some organizations place a higher premium on in-person interaction — whereas other companies enjoy the geographical flexibility of remote work, in addition to potentially lower expenses on office-related real estate.

While not quite as many individuals may be working remotely when the Pandemic begins to wane (following distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine), it’s not unreasonable to expect that there will be more workers (and companies) who will be interested in remote working.

Changes in the Service Industry: Ecommerce & Online Delivery/Pickup

The world of retail and hospitality will likely never look quite the same heading out from 2020. At the beginning of the pandemic, the use of online delivery apps such as Doordash, Instacart, and Uber Eats offered a way for customers to get access to products such as groceries and restaurant food without leaving home.

Additionally, usage of online pickup applications (available at several retailers, including Walmart, Wegmans and Target) allowed individuals to continue shopping without going into the stores themselves. According to a report from Salesforce, digital sales at stores which offered curbside pickup saw a 52% increase year-over year from Dec. 1–15th in 2020.

Both of these trends were in addition to an explosion of ecommerce purchasing habits that came about following the start of quarantine; benefiting online retailers such as Amazon immensely.

On the whole, larger national companies tended to perform better this year than small businesses, due in large part because larger corporations had greater access to capital in order to pivot and scale out alternate methods of purchasing/distribution. According to a September report from Yelp, over 100,000 U.S. businesses (many of which were small) had permanently closed due to impact of the Coronavirus, adding to the impact of increased unemployment rates.

It is yet to be seen if the United States’ eventual recovery from the health and economic harms of the COVID pandemic will result in a renewal of small-business and restaurant openings/reopenings, however significant challenges currently exist — particularly within the service industry — so several individuals may find it necessary to pivot into areas of economic growth, such as STEM, IT & the Skilled Trades.

A Time of Cautious Optimism

While it will likely be several months until the COVID-19 vaccine is distributed to a substantial portion of the U.S. working-age population, several businesses and financial analysists have signaled confidence about the prospects of an economic rebound in 2021. Additionally, the recently signed coronavirus-stimulus bill approved by the U.S. Congress is expected to be an additional lifeline to businesses and citizens during a time of peak infections, easing the economic burden of the epidemic within the immediate future.

Getting A New Job in the New Year

Consequently, with the availability of stimulus funds and the distribution of the COVID vaccine, it is not an unreasonable prediction to say that companies will be more confident towards hiring more individuals to expand thier business capabilities, particularly within growth sectors. According to the Motley Fool, among the positions that are projected to be in highest demand in 2021 include: Software Developers, Computer User Support Specialists, Industrial Machinery Mechanics, and Electricians.

If you do end up applying for a job in the near future, there is a decent chance that some, if not all of your interviews with a company/recruiter will be over the phone or using a videocalling service, due to the pandemic. It’s always a good idea to prepare for your interview by doing research about the company (if you are aware of who’s hiring) and position description, so you are prepared and well-versed to answer related questions.

Additionally, having a well-developed an active presence on LinkedIn can assist recruiters and hiring-managers seek out your skills and abilities and learn more about you. Finally, several trade organizations have pivoted meetings and networking events on to platforms such as Zoom, offering avenues for you to make connections and learn more about current events within your industry.