Since the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, nationwide as well as global shutdowns have resulted in the crippling of the hospitality industry, with over 3.9 million hospitality workers being left jobless since the start of the pandemic in February 2020. In response to this dire circumstance, CareerBuilder CEO Irina Novoselsky stated that companies are pulling out all the stops to bring back jobs as quickly as possible.
The leader of the online recruitment website explained that while hospitality companies are preparing for a “V-shaped” recovery, an increase in COVID-19 vaccinations is expected to drive an increase in the demand for travel. Novoselsky explained that she is confident that demand for travel will increase sooner rather than later, as prospective travelers are “wanting to get out there because they’ve been cooped up for several months.”
While Novoselsky shows optimism, the latest figures on the American job market are showing very little chance of improvement. For two consecutive weeks in mid-January, over 900,000 new unemployment claims were filed in the United States.
In contrast to the hospitality industry, there are several sectors that have coped well during the pandemic. Novoselsky suggested that those who are looking to switch career paths at this time may consider roles such as a software developer.
