The pandemic has led to the loss of around 22 million jobs in wealthy countries and 114 million across the world. A report from the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental economic organization dedicated to stimulating progress, warns of the risk of a rapid rise in long-term joblessness.
It’s a disturbing trend. The number of unemployed people who’ve been out of work for at least six months or more was 60% higher than its pre-pandemic level at the end of 2020. That figure continued to escalate in the first quarter of 2021, and disproportionately adversely affects already vulnerable groups. To make matters worse, the OECD contends that jobs won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023.
Despite the swift change of fortunes in the United States with hiring rebounding, the OECD is concerned that “hours worked in low-paying occupations fell by over 28%,” which is almost 20% greater than the decline among high-paying occupations. A frighteningly large number of young people are not employed, pursuing education or training, an increase of around 3 million, reversing the trends of the past decade. It’s problematic that young adults are without jobs or a solid education. As time progresses, they have fewer options available to them. It’s a recipe for discontent, drug and alcohol abuse, and a tendency to commit crime.
To ameliorate this problem, the OECD calls for governments to “roll out their recovery plans,” as it deem it “essential to continue supporting families most in need, while better targeting fiscal policy measures designed to boost growth toward firms and jobs that have a viable future in the new post-Covid-19 environment, providing the right incentives for business investment leading to the restoration and creation of more new jobs.”
Another significant source of concern is “the labor market also remains vulnerable to a rapid build-up of long-term unemployment. Many who lost their job in the first phases of the pandemic have been jobless since then and may find it increasingly difficult to compete with those whose jobs have been previously sheltered.”
The group calls for investments in “effective skills policies,” as it’s essential to “help businesses, startups, as well as workers cope with transitions to occupations and sectors with high growth potential, including those relying on green technologies.” The OECD calls for additional efforts to “promote a culture of lifelong learning and linking training to individuals rather than jobs.”
In June 2021, the number of long-term unemployed, which is defined as those jobless for 27 weeks or more, stood at nearly 4 million in the U.S., accounting for roughly 32.5% of the total unemployed. This doesn’t include the people who gave up and left the job market, are woefully underemployed or decided to retire early due to lack of work options.
The effects on the long-term unemployed are devastating. Many families run through their life savings and emergency funds. Unemployment benefits help, but doesn’t make up for the loss of a white-collar salary. It shouldn’t be this way; however, a person feels their self-worth is diminished. Tensions flare within the family. There’s a tendency for the person in between jobs to withdraw from social activities out of embarrassment and the awkwardness associated with having to tell people of their predicament.
To compound the challenges, job seekers face unconscious biases and discrimination in the job search process. Interviewers act as if it’s the applicant’s fault and make unfounded judgements as to why they haven’t procured a new position after months of trying to find a job. There’s an undercurrent of presumption that there must be an unspoken reason why they were selected for downsizing and couldn’t quickly line up a new opportunity. The large gap in unemployment is sadly seen as a red flag.
When finally presented with the opportunity to interview, the applicant brings baggage along with them. A hiring manager desires to extend an offer to a candidate who is positive, upbeat, enthusiastic and motivated. They want to feel that the applicant will be a fast-tracker, someone who gets things done and will make their life easier. It’s hard for a long-term, out-of-work person to summon up the confidence to win over the interviewer.
I’ve seen this story play out far too many times. The interviewee can’t suppress their resentment, bitterness and anger over having been laid off and left unemployed for such a long period of time. The supervisor notices this tension and becomes uncomfortable and concerned.
When you’ve lost your confidence, it takes a toll. You may avoid eye contact, squirm in your seat and stumble with your answers. The pressure to get a job becomes overwhelming—bordering on debilitating. They expect to fail, since it keeps happening. Nervousness makes them lose focus and the interview doesn’t end well.
The keys to combating long-term unemployment discrimination includes accepting what has happened, forgiving yourself and the people who let you go. You also need to develop a new job-search strategy.
Tap into your network. Politely and persistently ask for help. It may feel uncomfortable, but you’ll have to be a little pushy at times. Ask people you know to offer job leads and to put in a good word for you or make introductions at companies you’d like to work at. You have nothing to lose, so pull out all of the stops.
Go on LinkedIn and other social media sites to let the world know you’re out of work and actively search for a new job. Remind yourself that there’s no shame in being out of work. Digitally connect with people at your target companies. Comment on their postings and add your own content so you get noticed. Reach out to top recruiters that specialize in your area of expertise. Review and update your résumé. Practice your elevator pitch and go over all of the frequently asked interview questions.
Cultivate a mental comeback plan. Find some hobbies to get your mind off of the job search. Work out at the gym. Go for a run. Take up a sport. Join some clubs. Do something that you are good at to build back your confidence. Take care of your mental, emotional and spiritual self. Talk yourself into success. Stop all of the negative noise in your head. Replace it with positive mantras, in which you constantly remind yourself of all of your past victories.
We all have transferable skills. Use your talents to pivot toward a sector that’s growing. You may have to put aside your pride and accept a lower-level job to get back into the game. A steady income and health benefits will help you feel better about yourself. The new position could be a stepping stone. You’ll make new contacts, rebuild your self-esteem, advance with the organization and stealthily keep an eye open for a better opportunity.
Source: Forbes
