The novel coronavirus has not only torpedoed the current U.S. labor market but threatens to reshape hiring practices and employability metrics moving forward.
With a net loss of roughly 10 million jobs since the pandemic began, the virus is forcing hiring managers to recalibrate staffing levels and re-imagine workflow, upended by mass stay-at-home orders that have prompted unprecedented work-from-home allowances.
According to a new report issued by job posting and employee review site Glassdoor, many of the recently unemployed will be welcomed back to the workforce once a vaccine becomes widely available, but some job candidates will find that their former livelihoods have been literally lost in the shuffle.
“In 2020, COVID-19 devastated large parts of the economy, put millions out of work and created the most dire health crisis of the 21st century. But it also overturned outdated beliefs about remote work, sparked companies to build programs that foster emotional and cultural bonds between teams and has put even the most vigorous company cultures through the crucible during historically trying times,” Glassdoor Chief Economist Andrew Chamberlain wrote in the report.
“COVID is going to change the way we organize work and the way we spend,” he added.
According to USA Today, Glassdoor job postings in some categories plummeted in October because people are foregoing elective medical procedures and nonessential spending as the pandemic continues to rage.
For instance, openings for audiologists nose-dived by 70%, the most of any category, to 2,336, down from 7,710 in October 2019. Meanwhile, openings plunged 61% for opticians, 50% for hairstylists, 41% for pet groomers, 40% for physical therapists and 34% for sales managers in the year-over-year comparison, the outlet reported.
Glassdoor’s report indicates, however, that some positions, such as office and administrative roles, were already being re-evaluated before the pandemic “accelerated the shift,” while the hospitality and tourism sector could take years to recover and may never recoup pre-pandemic staffing levels.
Using Glassdoor data, CNBC compiled the following list of the 22 jobs that have suffered the most virus-related job losses:
1. Audiologist
• Job type: Discretionary health care
• October 2020 job openings: 2,336
• October 2019 job openings: 7,710
• Year-over-year % decrease: 70%
2. Event coordinator
• Job type: Admin and office
• October 2020 job openings: 1,723
• October 2019 job openings: 5,541
• Year-over-year % decrease: 69%
3. Product demonstrator
• Job type: Sales
• October 2020 job openings: 2,567
• October 2019 job openings: 6,932
• Year-over-year % decrease: 63%
4. Optician
• Job type: Discretionary health care
• October 2020 job openings: 2,208
• October 2019 job openings: 5,592
• Year-over-year % decrease: 61%
5. Chef
• Job type: Food service
• October 2020 job openings: 6,569
• October 2019 job openings: 14,844
• Year-over-year % decrease: 56%
6. Executive assistant
• Job type: Admin and office
• October 2020 job openings: 2,308
• October 2019 job openings: 5,182
• Year-over-year % decrease: 55%
7. Beauty consultant
• Job type: Personal services
• October 2020 job openings: 6,065
• October 2019 job openings: 12,845
• Year-over-year % decrease: 53%
8. Valet
• Job type: Personal services
• October 2020 job openings: 2,485
• October 2019 job openings: 5,054
• Year-over-year % decrease: 51%
9. Stylist
• Job type: Personal services
• October 2020 job openings: 5,237
• October 2019 job openings: 10,376
• Year-over-year % decrease: 50%
10. Coach
• Job type: Personal services
• October 2020 job openings: 6,844
• October 2019 job openings: 12,869
• Year-over-year % decrease: 47%
11. Brand ambassador
• Job type: Sales
• October 2020 job openings: 5,925
• October 2019 job openings: 10,055
• Year-over-year % decrease: 41%
12. Pet groomer
• Job type: Personal services
• October 2020 job openings: 3,854
• October 2019 job openings: 6,586
• Year-over-year % decrease: 41%
13. Physical therapist
• Job type: Discretionary health care
• October 2020 job openings: 17,372
• October 2019 job openings: 28,920
• Year-over-year % decrease: 40%
14. Intern
• Job type: Admin and office
• October 2020 job openings: 7,731
• October 2019 job openings: 12,732
• Year-over-year % decrease: 39%
15. Professor
• Job type: Education
• October 2020 job openings: 8,651
• October 2019 job openings: 14,247
• Year-over-year % decrease: 39%
16. HR generalist
• Job type: Admin and office
• October 2020 job openings: 3,314
• October 2019 job openings: 5,286
• Year-over-year % decrease: 37%
17. Accounts payable specialist
• Job type: Admin and office
• October 2020 job openings: 3,417
• October 2019 job openings: 5,413
• Year-over-year % decrease: 37%
18. Receptionist
• Job type: Admin and Office
• October 2020 job openings: 11,627
• October 2019 job openings: 17,826
• Year-over-year % decrease: 35%
19. Instructor
• Job type: Education
• October 2020 job openings: 12,751
• October 2019 job openings: 19,278
• Year-over-year % decrease: 34%
20. Sales manager
• Job type: Sales
• October 2020 job openings: 16,525
• October 2019 job openings: 24,917
• Year-over-year % decrease: 34%
21. Accountant
• Job type: Admin and office
• October 2020 job openings: 19,723
• October 2019 job openings: 27,637
• Year-over-year % decrease: 29%
22. Account executive
• Job type: Sales
• October 2020 job openings: 14,337
• October 2019 job openings: 19,624
• Year-over-year % decrease: 27%
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>> Dangerous hand sanitizer list up to more than 150 products, FDA announces
>> Wash your masks: How to clean a cloth face covering
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>> How to not let coronavirus pandemic fatigue set in, battle back if it does
Cox Media Group