Vulnerability of Jobs in the US because of the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Vulnerability of Jobs in the US because of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Student Name
Institution Affiliation
Date
Abstract
Consensus around the world is that the coronavirus pandemic continues to not only decimate many economies but also contribute to massive job losses and layoffs. With measures such as curfew and lockdowns being put in place for the foreseeable future to curb the spread of the virus, there is increasing encouragement for individuals to work remotely and from their homes. The study investigates jobs at a higher risk as the demand for social distancing becomes the norm to control the spread of Covid-19. The research will highlighting industries hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic in the US when face-to-face interactions are an occupational hazard.
Keywords: Curfew, Lockdowns, Remotely
1 Introduction
Background Statement
The coronavirus pandemic continues to decimate and cripple economies worldwide. The virus that broke out in Wuhan, China in December 2019 has not resulted in massive losses of lives globally but also impacted severely different industries including the employment sector. This is because one of the measures instituted by governments around globe has been to suppress movements through curfews and lockdowns. US states such as New Jersey implemented a curfew early on into the pandemic in March, 2020 (Thornton, 2020).
While with curfew individuals are allowed to move out of their houses, lockdown discourages movement completely. Based on these measures, employers in the US were encouraged to allow their workers to work remotely from home (Mongey and Weinberg, 2020). However, not every employee has been lucky as many have since lost their jobs and main sources of their daily sustenance. Reports indicate that a quarter of US adults acknowledge that either themselves of someone in their household was laid off as companies sort to cut costs due to the pandemic (Fronstin and Woodbury, 2020). Similarly, quite a number were forced to take substantial pay cuts because either demand for their duties or their working hours had been reduced.
As the demand for social distancing becomes the norms, it is essential to note that there are jobs at a higher risk. This is because not all jobs can be performed remotely or at home. This research purposes to share more light and input concerning the industries hardest hit and the jobs at most risk of being lost in the US since face to face interactions with the coronavirus pandemic is deemed to be an occupational hazard.
2 Research Aim
The aim of this research is to highlight industries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic and particularly jobs at most risk in the US as the demand for social distancing becomes the norm and face to face interactions in the region are considered an occupational hazard. While more employers in the nation are encouraging their employees to work remotely and at home, many individuals who have to be physically present at their job stations have been rendered jobless and others forced to take substantial pay cuts. With no end in sight to the pandemic, Mongey and Weinberg (2020) note that earning a living will be normal for those in essential service industries, whose jobs have reduced or no face-to-face interaction with others, and those who can work from home. This research will attempt to investigate jobs at a higher risk as the demand for social distancing becomes the norm to control the spread of Covid-19.
Research Objectives
* To find out why not everyone will suffer to the same extent when the country is under lockdown.
* To investigate why some people can find it easier to continue earning a living while others are facing the largest income losses.
* To find out how the distribution of working rom of spreads within states, cities, industries, and occupations in the country.
3 Literature Review
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in August 2020 and which involved 13,200 US adults showcased and highlighted the grave employment situation in the country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic (Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project, 2021). This comes in the wake of curfew and lockdown measures that were instituted in the different states to curb the spread of the virus and ensure effective management of the situation. The survey highlighted that about 25% of US adults have either themselves or someone within and around their household been laid off or lost their job (Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project, 2021). These are young individuals between the ages of 18 and 29 years and majority of who were at the beginning of their careers. Aratani (2020) reiterates the above sentiments and shares that barely a month since WHO declared the coronavirus a global pandemic and curfews and lockdown measures were instituted in different regions, over 20 million Americans lost their jobs. As such, the unemployment rate soared to 14.7% from 4.4% the previous month. This according to Dingel and Neiman (2020) is the largest level of unemployment since the Great Depression.
The past one year has seen many Americans fall under hard economic and financial times. From Clark’s (2020) research on individuals from different ethnic communities in 10 states in the region, at least 1 in 4 adults report facing challenges paying their bills. The research further revealed that 1/3 of American adults have been forced to dip into their savings and retirement accounts just to make ends meet. Alon, Doepke, Olmstead-Rumsey and Tertilt (2020) reiterate the above concerns and notes that they arise not only because many people have lost their jobs or been laid off but also due to the fact that most of those employed have been forced to take substantial pay cuts. According to Fronstin and Woodbury (2020), with employees working from home or for short durations per day, their inputs have significantly reduced. Similarly, the demand for the products and services they deal in has plummeted and as such, employers have no choice but also to reduce their remunerations.
As more American employees continue to suffer from job losses and pay cuts because curfew and lockdown seems to be the new normal in and around the country, Mongey and Weinberg (2020) points to the fact that it is essential to note that not everyone is bound to suffer the same fate. From a survey of around 500 people in Los Angeles, Onetonline.org (2021) found out that about ¾ of the respondents had barely felt the effects in terms of their remunerations or risk of termination because of the coronavirus pandemic since they have managed to effectively continue carrying out their duties from the comfort of their homes. Nonetheless, the majority of the jobs held by these individuals were not hands-on in the sense that they didn’t require them to be physically present at their work stations (Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project, 2021). Soucheray (2020) cements the above position and shares that quite a large percentage of jobs that can be done remotely are tech-dependent and includes roles such as web developer, computer support specialist, graphic designer, and software developer among others. Individuals in these roles just need access to a good computer and reliable internet connection to support the objectives of their organizations. Other roles shared by Thornton (2020) that can be done remotely include marriage and family therapist, interpreter, paralegal, tutor, customer service representative, data entry and writer to mention but a few.
A survey conducted by Wells (2020) on online employment marketplaces revealed that there has been a sharp increase from 2% before the pandemic to over 12% in the number of work from home job postings. This is an indication that many employers in the region have not only embraced the new normal but have also acknowledged that it works perfectly. Flex jobs for instance and which is a marketplace for remote jobs indicates that its site has witnessed a 50% increase in traffic from one year ago (Wells, 2020, n.p). According to Walker (2020), these platforms are witnessing more traffic as it is not only individuals who were previously unemployed but also those who have since lost their jobs or been laid off that are engaging in their services. Similarly, employed individuals are also engaging in some of the remote jobs to supplement their incomes. With technology, there are quite a number of works from home jobs that pay very well. For instance, translators are charging about $20 per hour for their services while online tutors charge at least $25/hour to review assignments in applicable subject areas (Wells, 2020, n.p). There has also been a 300% increase in Forex market trading during the pandemic particularly because of rising unemployment in the region (Walker, 2020, n.p). From Soucheray (2020) perspective, individuals have been forced to reinvent themselves and their career aspirations and to think outside the box to make ends meet.
The above success information of people surviving the pandemic through remote jobs according to Thornton (2020) should not divert attention from the fact that quite a number of Americans have not been so lucky. These are employees who have to be physically present at their work stations such as machine operators in manufacturing companies. According to Shoening and Shapiro (2020), most companies in light of the curfew and lockdown restrictions closed down temporarily and in so doing lay off their wor...