The current situation

The coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, is now affecting many parts of our daily lives. The pandemic has been with us for quite a while and people even say that they are getting used to wearing masks all the time. As the pandemic is currently a big part of our lives, there will be more challenges ahead, meaning that people ought to consider the possible impact on their futures. Above all, the devastating impacts of the coronavirus on the job market can be divided into two main categories. First, the economy has been adversely affected by the virus. In the worst case, the OECD predicts global economic growth to be around -7.6% this year. Countries are expected to sink into the worst recession seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. This is very significant as it means the labor market has tightened. Second, the non-face-to-face (‘untact’ as it is known in Korea) era has begun. A recent example of this is companies conducting telecommuting. Also, students are mostly taking classes remotely through applications such as Zoom. This prevents the spread of the virus. Because daily life is now quite different from the past, this may have a lot of influence on one’s career.

The effects on the job market

Since the job market has been dramatically affected, there are new opinions on career choices, i.e. regarding whether certain careers are promising or not. Promising professions are related not only to the crisis, but also to numerous other factors. Considering this will greatly help you to choose your career path. First, many people see AI-related jobs as promising. One reason is that artificial intelligence can achieve a non-face-to-face reality, which may become more necessary in response to outbreaks of viruses such as COVID-19. Also, it is because of the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. According to research conducted by Professor Frey and Osborne in 2013, for convenience and the economy, in 10 to 20 years, 47% percent of current U.S. labor market jobs are likely to be replaced by AI. These reasons demonstrate the potential promise of AI-related jobs in many ways. Examples of jobs include software developers, system design and program developers, and designers. Second, according to KIRD (Korea Institute of Human Resources Development in Science and Technology), there are jobs that are safe from being replaced by AI technology. In other words, they are hard to replicate and involve a certain degree of unpredictability. Many such jobs involve dealing with people. Examples include psychiatrists, psychological counselors, nurses, and kindergarten teachers.
Identifying unpromising careers is very simple. These are jobs that can easily be replaced by artificial intelligence. In general, these jobs have three characteristics: First, they involve producing something manually. Second, they involve repetitive work. Third, they can easily be completed by another person. In other words, a job is likely to be replaced by AI if these three conditions are met. Examples include manufacturing and production site work, warehouse workers, and cashiers

A depressed labor market

In light of this situation, readers might have questions about how to survive in their chosen careers. The unexpected pandemic has brought several changes that may cause a crisis for people who are trying to forge their careers. People tend to be disconcerted when a sudden change occurs. Recession is part of the business cycle, characterized by high unemployment and negative growth. Some people’s jobs may be in jeopardy, and this is why they need to consider their careers seriously; between March and July, about 1.7 million jobs were lost. More specifically, the number of employees in the public sector increased while the number of employees in the private sector decreased markedly. The main reason was the coronavirus, and people who work in the private sector or those who could not respond quickly have suffered financially. This situation is getting worse. Three ways to survive the recession will now be discussed.
Firstly, save enough money for emergencies. Tough economic times usually result in widespread layoffs. Employees often receive lower payments, and they may not be able to pay their bills. The coronavirus hit the world suddenly, meaning that there was not enough time to prepare. People need to prepare enough of what they need to prevent further stress.
Secondly, focus on what you should do for at least half a year. Nobody can predict how long the coronavirus will continue to disrupt daily life. It may or may not last for one to two years, or it may be with us forever. Perhaps this is the time to develop your current career or pursue a new career that is less likely to be affecte d by another pandemic. Make lemonade out of lemons: seize the opportunity!
Lastly, concentrating on yourself is also crucial. Above all, this includes pondering about your current economic or mental state. Check your budget and cut down on unnecessary expenses. As a result, you can save enough money to spend appropriately. To identify what is unworthy to you, pondering and meditation could be helpful.

Encouraging people

Since the emergence of the pandemic, the economy has slid into recession. Most jobs have become non-face-to-face, and it has become necessary to learn new skills to adapt to the ongoing situation, such as how to use videoconferencing, etc., despite many people not being tech-savvy. This could be a challenge for people. The world is changing. Now, wearing a mask and social distancing is mandatory, and many aspects of life such as work, the economy, and culture have been affected. Some people adapt quickly, but some do not. People tend to be nervous when confronting unexpected problems. However, humanity has overcome many crises in the end throughout history, whether it be medical, economic, or cultural. We do not know what part of COVID-19 will last and change our life; however, if we prepare and follow guidelines and rules, a more positive outcome is likely. Simply wearing a mask everywhere, social distancing, and washing hands frequently can improve the situation. Therefore, concentrate on yourself to forge your career and protect yourself. Then other people can also develop the quality of their lives.