With the announcement of 850,000 jobs added to the U.S. job market yesterday, one might predict that the economy is on the verge of a major boom. Personally, I prefer to hold out on my enthusiasm until the numbers are in over the next few months. As states continue to open back up and the hesitation of thousands of people to get vaccinated, I worry that we may see a resurgence of the pandemic. We still live in a world of uncertainty with new variants, discussions about booster shots, and the pending flu season.
Job Market Statistics
Source: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
| U.S. Unemployment Rate (Reported July 8, 2021) | 5.9% |
| Number of Unemployed Persons | 9.5M |
| Jobless Rate for Women | 5.5% |
| Jobless Rate for Blacks | 9.2% |
My forever optimism is also offset by the fact the Black Americans are still the highest group set when it comes to unemployment at 9.2%. While this number is down significantly from April 2021 (9.7%), it is still staggering. Similarly, women have seen little change in the unemployment rate which is currently 5.5%, a slight decline from the 5.6% reported in April 2021.
Since the start of Covid19, millions of women transitioned to work-from-home or simply left the workforce altogether. The lack of child care services, and home-schooling, left many working mothers with very few options. For Black Americans, the fears associated with the vaccine clearly contributed to the unemployment rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black Americans (and other minorities) who have received one dose or who are fully vaccinated fall below 15% nationwide, compared to over 60% for white Americans.
The Job Market by Industry
Top 4 Industries With Job Losses
- Construction
- Warehousing
- Food + Beverage Stores
- Health + Personal Care Stores
Construction jobs suffered a small hit during the month of June, however, has an overall loss of 238,000 since February 2020. It is even more important that the President’s Infrasture bill is passed in Congress as will create thousands of jobs that are clearly needed.
Top 4 Industries With Job Gains
- Leisure + Hospitality
- Child Care Services
- Retail Trade
- Business Services
Two industries with some of the highest job gains this quarter are Leisure + Hospitality and Child Care Services.
It is the hope that working mothers will be able to re-enter the job market and provide for their families. While this is encouraging news, again, we are faced with the unknown in terms of the Corona Virus.
Top Companies Hiring
- TForce Freight (Formally UPS)
- Humana
- Verizon
- Allied Universal
One of the biggest changes we’ve seen over the past year when it comes to the job market is the increase of remote work. Experts predict that remote work is here to stay, at least for the near future.
In addition to remote work positions, many companies are introducing hybrid models into their company cultures.
What’s important to remember is there are jobs out there. If the vaccine is a hindrance, remote work or hybrid models may be the way to go.
Virtual Events + Job Fairs
- July 6, 2021 – RecruitMilitary National Career Fair [Nationwide USA]
- July 14, 2021 – Women In Technology (WIT) Virtual Job Fair
- July 20, 2021 – TECHEXPO Cyber Security Virtual Hiring Event
- July 27, 2021 – New York City Area Virtual Diversity Job Fair
- August 12, 2021 – General + Tech + Sales + Marketing Job Fair
Virtual events and job fairs are the new norm! Research your state for local virtual or drive-by job fairs and be sure to register early.
Jamilah's Tip of the Month
Mastering Work-from-Home is quickly becoming a learned skill as many businesses are opting to continue with this model even after the vaccine. Being able to remote work requires the same skills as a traditional office position, and so much more.
Creating daily routines, managing meetings and Zoom calls, scheduling your day, and taking reasonable breaks are key steps to being productive. Setting boundaries, both professionally and personally throughout the day helps to alleviate stress and burn-out.
“Work-life balance is not just a buzzy, self-help term that real business people laugh at. You need it.” ~ Stephanie Ruhle
If you are considering working from home, try honing those transferable skills and updating your resume.
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