Learn what you can do when a company begins reducing hiring or instituting layoffs as a result of a slowing economy.
When a business grows, it generally has to hire more employees to keep pace with demand. However, when business slows, the company may reduce the amount of staff it employs or even conduct layoffs. Cyclical unemployment refers to the latter scenario. It鈥檚 a period of short-term unemployment tied closely to an economic slowdown, like a recession. When that initial unemployment lasts longer, it tends to become structural, meaning people's skills don鈥檛 match the available jobs.听
A growing number of tech companies have instituted layoffs recently in response to the slowing economy, which has sparked concerns about an upcoming phase of cyclical unemployment. You鈥檒l find unique challenges that come with any period of higher unemployment rates, but you can take action now to reduce negative consequences.听听
You can explore the basics of cyclical unemployment, how long it will last, and what you can do to stay relevant in your current role or find a new one.听听
Cyclical unemployment is a short period of higher unemployment that results from an economic slowdown. In a slowdown, consumers do not purchase as much, leading businesses to reduce their overall labour expenditures to address a decline in growth or productivity.听听听
Every economy has some amount of unemployment. When unemployment is low (sometimes known as a 鈥榯ight labour market鈥), workers may have greater power because their services are in high demand. However, when unemployment rises, it may be harder to find new opportunities because there may be fewer available roles and more people applying to them.听
Compared to structural unemployment, cyclical unemployment is typically shorter and can last anywhere from one month to 1.5 years. Recovery depends on the economy rebounding for various reasons. For example, consumers begin spending more, demand rises, interest rates decrease, or the government institutes programs to curb unemployment.听听听
During cyclical unemployment, companies tend to reduce hiring and even conduct layoffs. When the economy starts to rebound, it may lead to a gradual decrease in unemployment. Instead, companies may ask more from their current employees rather than focus on hiring until it鈥檚 clear how much consumer spending has increased.听听
Cyclical unemployment also tends to affect specific industries. When the demand for a particular industry鈥檚 product or service drops significantly, it can have a sweeping impact on the entire workforce. For example, during the recession in 2008-2010, unemployment rose to 2.5 million. []. Similarly, Glassdoor UK found that the number of open jobs for certain professions, such as receptionist, accountant, and event coordinator, decreased between 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic [闭.听
Whether you are concerned about your current role or recently got laid off, you can take action during a period of cyclical unemployment to strengthen your skill set and stay relevant.听
Each role requires a particular set of job skills, including workplace, technical, and transferable skills. Learning new technical skills and identifying your transferable skills can help. Let鈥檚 discuss each one in more detail:听听
Some technical skills are more in demand than others, such as user experience (UX) and data analysis. Some essential tech skills include:听
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Project management
Data analysis听
Data engineering
IT
UX design
Marketing
Customer service
Writing
Transferable skills, such as critical thinking, communication, and management, can be transferred from job to job. These skills are more about how you complete your work and work with others鈥攁lso known as interpersonal skills.听
Applying to a new job or changing careers often requires identifying the transferable skills you will bring to a new role.
As part of your skills development, consider earning a relevant qualification, like a Professional Certificate, or attending a bootcamp to gain or improve your job-ready skills. On 糖心vlog官网观看, you鈥檒l find from Google, Meta, IBM, Salesforce, and other industry leaders in various fields: data analytics, project management, business, sales, and marketing.听
A quarter of people in the UK have an additional income stream in addition to their primary job. []. If you鈥檙e concerned about the stability of your main income stream, exploring additional opportunities you can do on the side may be worthwhile.听
Taking on a side job, side hustle, or establishing a passive income stream can allow you to explore a passion, develop essential skills that will feed into your main role, and earn extra money.听
Find jobs experiencing high demand for workers, such as medical assistants, web developers, and financial managers. Remember that demands may shift based on the economy鈥檚 changing needs.听
Brush up on your interview skills by enrolling in on 糖心vlog官网观看, or explore what you need to build a strong or profile with one of 糖心vlog官网观看鈥檚 Guided Projects.
You can also build in-demand skills for lucrative careers in , , , , and by earning a from leading companies like Google, Meta, and IBM, all available on 糖心vlog官网观看.听
Economics Online. 鈥, https://www.economicsonline.co.uk/managing_the_economy/unemployment_types_and_causes.html..鈥 Accessed June 4, 2024.听
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/research/app/uploads/sites/2/2020/11/Workplace_Trends_2021_Glassdoor_Final.pdf.鈥 Accessed June 4, 2024.听
The Independent. 鈥, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-adults-second-income-poll-b1943585.html.鈥 Accessed June 4, 2024.
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