COVID-19 is both a health crisis and an economic disruptor that is likely to shape how people will live and work for some time to come. Given the magnitude of its impact, it wouldn’t be surprising if the pandemic has made you rethink your working future. Jobs for single moms, in particular, may be difficult to find, especially if they have to homeschool their kids.
As a single mom, it’s hard to balance time between a professional career and personal time. As a result, it’s worth looking for jobs that offer a flexible work schedule and times.
It’s also worth pausing to take a look at what the in-demand occupations will likely be in the coming years. Whether you’re studying to enter the workforce or deciding on a new career path, check out this list of essential jobs for single moms in the post-COVID era, along with tips on industries likely to experience permanent changes. These could give you some valuable insights for making an informed decision about your next steps.
Jobs for Single Moms in a Post-COVID World
Some industries are likely to experience permanent changes, or at least long-term changes. Some of them include:
- Retail: Lockdowns have delivered significant blows to retail sectors around the world – although eCommerce, groceries, and other essentials have had increased demand. As things open up, retail operators need to have in place health and safety measures to protect their employees.
- Hospitality and tourism: Like retail, hospitality and tourism have been heavily impacted by shutdowns and social distancing. However, it has experienced an additional impact on international flight bans. When things reopen, hospitality and tourism operators will likely need to have certain health and safety measures to help control the spread of COVID-19.
- Transport: Demand for public transport and on-demand transportation has declined significantly during lockdowns. However, logistics, freight, road and rail, and other related segments are likely seeing higher demand due to eCommerce growth and the ongoing need to deliver food and other essential consumer goods.
- Education: Schools and higher education are likely to experience permanent changes for the foreseeable future. Schools, for example, might need to be agile and flexible about shutdowns and online education when outbreaks occur. The higher education sector could see the same impacts as primary and high schools. In addition, it will be heavily impacted by international travel bans limiting international student numbers. Revenue and a shift to online education are likely long-term trends.
- Manufacturing: The manufacturing industry has been heavily impacted, as on-site work cannot be carried out on a remote basis. In addition, slowing economic activity has decreased the demand for industrial products. Post-COVID, manufacturing businesses might need to get used to sudden plant closures to contain outbreaks as well as exploring automation to reduce worker density.
- Media and advertising: Social distancing has led to growth in demand for entertainment and content, but advertising budgets have been impacted by falling consumer spending on non-essential items. Digital advertising might continue to grow physical advertising.
While some industries might stagnate or contract, others could be in more demand than pre-COVID. Healthcare, pharmacy, and eCommerce roles are among those likely to grow.
Healthcare Roles
The healthcare sector is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% to 2023. COVID, aging populations, and the prevalence of chronic conditions are some of the driving factors for expansion. As such, you should expect to see demand growth for occupations such as doctors, specialist doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, sonographers, and laboratory technicians.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Assistants
The pharmaceutical sector should grow for the same reasons as healthcare: COVID, aging population, and increases in chronic diseases. COVID could have indirect, permanent impacts like the increased need for mental health treatment and flu vaccines. All of these factors could mean occupations like pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, and pharmacy technicians could have sustained growth.
Remedial Therapy Workers
Similar driving factors could result in heightened demand for remedial therapy workers as well. Remedial therapy has typically been closely associated with workplace and sports injuries, rehabilitation, age-related factors, and chronic conditions. Post-COVID, remedial therapy workers could be in even higher demand due to mental health conditions such as anxiety and stress.
eCommerce
Online shopping rates leaped by more than 129% during the earliest weeks of the COVID crisis. In the coming years, eCommerce should see further demand growth. eCommerce firms will require more eCommerce marketers, customer service representatives, shipping and picking clerks, and freight and stock movers. They will also need more web developers, operations managers, graphic designers, and marketing data experts.
Tech Support
The trade occupations remain essential for residential housing, construction, businesses, and everyday consumers. Jobs such as tech support or mobile repair technicians will always be in demand. Other technical jobs such as remote communications tech service will be needed as more and more people continue to work from home.
With the ongoing trades skills shortage, it’s likely the trades professionals will need more new skilled entrants. Although social distancing could impact how the work is carried out, new risk-management measures could be sufficient.
COVID-19 is An Opportunity to Upskill
If you’re in an industry with an uncertain future post-COVID, consider it a great chance to upskill or learn a new skill set that will ensure your employability in the future. Jobs like pharmacy assistants, eCommerce marketers, and nurses are likely to see modest to substantial upswings in demand now and in the near future.
You could also focus on developing general and soft technical skills – like using technology and demonstrating leadership competencies, creativity, and innovation. Also valued are critical thinking, data literacy, digital and coding skills, and emotional intelligence. These can boost your employability when the time comes to re-enter the workforce or shift to a new career.
Big Change = Big Opportunity
Disruptive change is a fact of modern life and complex economies. Living in a time of great disruption can be overwhelming, but it’s also an excellent opportunity. Rather than staying in a shrinking industry with declining career prospects, you can start upskilling or retraining for shifting to a growth sector with potentially better pay and conditions.
Along with formal qualifications, you could further enhance your potential by building soft and general skills, especially in the digital and data areas. Pursuing additional qualifications might not just be about survival but also finding a career you love and will thrive in.
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