By Carmen Reinicke - CNBC + Acorns
You don't have to look far to see a "we are hiring" sign these days as certain industries struggle to recover amid the coronavirus pandemic.
For some workers, it may then be a good time to change careers.
While millions of Americans are still unemployed, some industries can't hire fast enough to keep up with demand.
The unemployment rate fell slightly to 5.2% in August, but it is still higher than before the pandemic.
People claiming unemployment benefits fell to a pandemic-era low of 2.82 million in the week ending Aug. 14, though it remains high.
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At the same time, job openings rose to an all-time high of 10.1 million at the end of June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (the data is missing the one-month unemployment report).
This means that
there is one unemployed person for every job offer
, according to the data.
The fact that there are several jobs available does not mean that they belong to your job sector.
Before you start your search for a new job or quit without having a secured position, you
should research what is happening in the industry in which you work,
experts say.
This is how the labor market reacted in the states where unemployment benefits were suspended
July 21, 202101: 13
"Across the country, there are two active online applications for every unemployed American right now, but that's not the case in every industry," Julia Pollak, chief labor economist at ZipRecruiter, told CNBC.
For example, if you are in the
leisure
industry
, the hospitality industry
or some related service, it is likely that at this time
it is easier for you to find a job
than in other sectors.
There is also a premium for remote work.
About 55% of applicants want to practice from home, but only 10% of companies offer this possibility, according to Pollak.
Identify what you want in your new job
If you want to change jobs, especially in a sector where there is a lot of demand for new workers,
you probably have a better chance of negotiating than before the pandemic,
Paul Wolfe, Indeed's senior vice president of human resources
,
told CNBC.
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"The pandemic has changed our perspectives on what is important," he said.
"Job seekers have wanted it for a while, and now they are going to get it," he added.
That means that to apply for a new job you must be clear about what you are looking for and do research to make sure that the companies are in tune with your needs, be it a higher salary, more vacation time or flexible telecommuting, accordingly. with Wolfe.
Row in front of a job center reopened for in-person dating in Louisville, Kentucky, April 15, 2021.REUTERS / Amira Karaoud
In the interview process, Wolfe recommends asking questions to make sure the company will give you what you want, especially in regards to more flexibility for teleworking, which is the main feature people are looking for in this business. moment.
"Job seekers have to do their homework," Wolfe said.
"Come with your list, ask questions and if you are not transparent, they will detect it," he
said.
He added that, especially when it comes to telecommuting, some companies are not sure what their policy will be in the future.
Still, by asking in an interview, you can set the stage for what's important to you and gauge the company's response.
Who is benefiting from this scenario?
Wages, benefits and benefits for certain jobs - mostly entry-level positions that do not require a college education in sectors hit hard by the pandemic - are booming with employers scrambling to find new workers.
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According to Pollak, the labor shortage could benefit some groups more than others.
On the one hand,
teenagers have been very lucky
when it comes to applying for and landing these types of jobs with
higher salaries than usual.
In this sense, this summer has been the best for teenage work since the 1950s.
People who had to leave their jobs during the pandemic and have not worked in a year may also be lucky to get a job again, as some employers are desperate for workers.
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In addition, according to Pollak, those who want to switch to a job that they were not necessarily qualified for in the past will have an easier time making the jump now, given that it is a sector in high demand.
"Once you're in a job, and you have experience, then it doesn't matter what you've done before," he said.
"This could be a stepping stone to better opportunities for many people," the expert concluded.
This article is part of the Invest in You Ready series. Set. Grow (Invest in you: Ready. Done. Grow), an initiative of CNBC and Acorns, the microinvestment app. NBC Universal and Comcast Ventures are Acorns investors.