More than a million jobs have been lost in Ohio since mid-March. Will those positions still be there post-pandemic, or will job seekers have to pivot and find something new?
We talked to some regional experts about the industries that are hiring in Northeast Ohio and the long term effects of the pandemic on our workforce.
Right now in Northeast Ohio, there are thousands of fewer job postings than there were a year ago this time because of the pandemic, according to the data, and experts say it'll likely remain that way into next year.
"Gaining some of those jobs back, very few, in 2021, and really starting to see an employment recovery that goes 2022 into 2023," said Jacob Duritsky with Team NEO as he walked us through several slides. Duritsky crunched the latest preliminary numbers from Moody's Analytics to see what the data predicts for our regional economy. He cautioned it's early and could be conservative.
"But from an employment perspective, no sector of the economy is expected to see year-over-year gains from 2019 to 2020 because of COVID-19," he said.
Despite the hit, Duritsky believes our region's three big industries of manufacturing, health care and IT will survive.
"What I would advise folks to think about over the long-term is that the big needs in the sectors that drive Northeast Ohio aren’t just going to go away," said Duritsky.
As for in the short-term, "Within the mortgage industry, financial services, education, public health, technology, all these industries are hiring," said Megan Keeney, a Cleveland Workplace expert with Robert Half.
Those are the industries Keeney said to look into if you need a job right now.
"The skills they’re hiring for are anything from data entry, to customer service, to processing, to claims processors, payment posters, medical billers," she said. "They’re out there and they are hiring right now."
"The number one thing is to make sure your resume is up to date," advised Julie Marks, senior VP at Alexander Mann Solutions.
When it comes to marketing yourself post-pandemic, she says highlight your skills and flexibility, utilize your network, and get on LinkedIn if you're not already.
"That’s one of the first places organizations will turn to in looking at opportunities for individuals in bringing them in," said Marks.
"They're offering phone interviews, video interviews, they're offering virtual onboarding," said Keeney. "Companies are having to manage remotely right now.”
If you are wanting to go to work, both say to stay positive and be open to all opportunities.
"It might be a short-term position, but you might gain a new skill-set that you can leverage for another position coming your way," said Keeney.
"Keep the faith that you will in fact come out the other side," said Marks.
Speed to hire is underway, but the speed at which we all go back to work fully is a concern in the long-term for economics professor at Case Western, Scott Shane.
"What I worry about is erosion of skills for people because it takes them a long time to go back to work," said Shane.
He says another big question is if people will even feel safe enough to re-enter the workforce right now.
The state says there are more than 40,000 job postings for people willing and able to work.
To see them, and more resources for job seekers - click here.
