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What was meant to last only a few weeks has now persistently caused chaos for over two years. With the rise in COVID-19 cases across the world came new working conditions, shifting occupational patterns, and the development of certain industries.
In this article, we’ll be exploring how COVID-19 impacted the world of work, demonstrating how the pandemic impacted the rise of certain industries. From there, we’ll discuss how these effects have trickled down into education, with certain degrees becoming more popular than ever with current students.
Let’s get right into it.
How Has COVID-19 Changed the World of Work?
It’s undeniable that COVID-19 significantly shifted the world of work – perhaps forever. From companies across the world moving online to new working conditions materializing overnight, things have radically changed. Two of the stark changes that people have experienced are the shift in their daily working lives and the rise of certain industries to the top of the job-demand market.
During 2020, 71% of people across the U.S. were working from home in some capacity. Considering that only 20% of people had worked from home before this, the movement online has reached astounding levels. What’s more, the majority of people don’t want to go back to the office, with 68% of people stating that they enjoy working from home because they can finish earlier without distractions while also avoiding the long commute.
People aren’t rushing back to the office anytime soon, demonstrating the radical shift that almost everyone has experienced in the working world. Alongside this, the world has seen certain industries become more popular than ever during this period.
Whether that’s due to the rising demand or because of individuals seeking more interesting career paths, it’s undeniable that there’s been a global shift in priorities.
What career paths have become more popular?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of work has radically shifted. Over the past two years, some career fields have become incredibly popular, reflecting their increased need due to the altered circumstances.
The career paths that have skyrocketed in popularity, according to credible sources, fall into three main categories:
- Health
- Data science
- Online security
Let’s break these down further.
Healthcare
Perhaps the least surprising addition to the workforce during and beyond the impact of COVID is an influx of new people selecting careers in healthcare. From nurse practitioners that are currently up 52.2% in demand to a new generation of physical therapists, people are suddenly turning to this field.
As healthcare is an industry that isn’t going anywhere – there will always be sick people that need help – it’s also a particularly stable industry to choose. Due to the continual need for surgeons, doctors, nurses, and healthcare administrators, many people are selecting these career paths due to the increased job stability that they’re likely to find.
This is especially the case when considering that job security has fallen greatly during the COVID pandemic. With many more organizations struggling to turn a profit, large-scale layoffs have been seen throughout a range of industries. However, this isn’t the case in healthcare, which has actually seen an increase in employment since the pandemic’s layoffs.
This even extends into salaries, with private healthcare salaries seeing on average a 9.5% increase between February 2020 and October 2021. Healthcare is definitely here to stay, making this a very attractive avenue of career pursuit for those entering the job market.
Data Science
Data Science is one of the breakaway stars of the pandemic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is set to see a large increase in demand, with job availability increasing by around 28% by 2026. This equates to roughly 11.5 million new jobs in this field, instantly demonstrating how in-demand this career path is quickly becoming.
A data scientist is also currently rated the third most sought-after job in America, with a median base salary of $120,000 and over 10,000 current job openings across the country.
The prime reason that data science has become such an important industry during the pandemic is that more people than ever are working from home. With the increased amount of demand for technical solutions and online platforms, there is more data to process than ever. A data scientist is able to handle this data, working with data architects to create pathways and present findings.
As more and more people move online, the total amount of data generated increases, with those that go into a career within data science continually moving to support this growth.
Online Security
Much like data science, those moving into online security fields are doing so due to the increased demand that the move to work-from-home has placed on digital security. Businesses’ attack surfaces are larger than ever, with potential avenues for digital criminals to target having expanded.
This industry is set to grow an impressive 12.0% between 2021-2028, demonstrating the rush towards this field. Those with skills in tech are turning their sights on online security, providing safety solutions for businesses.
Especially with employees sharing confidential data through data pathways, it’s become vital to ensure organizations are protected at all times. If you’re looking to move into an industry that is growing and will likely continue to do so, then online security could be a great bet for you.
What subjects have seen major uptake?
As industries grow, students that are currently selecting their degrees are actively shifting to reflect these changes. As industries like healthcare, online security, and data engineering begin to grow, the degree subjects that lead into those fields start to become more popular.
This trend has seen more and more students flocking to certain subjects. The two shining stars of this movement have been a bachelor of science degree programs and bachelor of computer science degree programs. Both of these programs provide direct links to the aforementioned career pathways.
Especially in the case of a bachelor of science degree program, many students are using these subjects (psychology, nursing, human biology, etc.) in order to set themselves up for a career in healthcare. The breadth of these courses allows students to get a qualification in a science field, which they can then use to study a course like nursing or medicine.
Similarly, students are studying a general degree qualification in computer science in order to set themselves up for a career within online security and data. Both of these career pathways need a strong foundation in computer skills, which means this can be the perfect choice for those students.
Additionally, the breadth of both science degrees and computer science degrees can allow students a great deal of flexibility, making these great choices for a more uncertain post-COVID world.
Final Thoughts
The world of work was radically altered by COVID, with trickle-down ramifications leading to students changing their majors and focusing on different degree pathways. With the additional uncertainty that the working world is currently facing, choosing a degree that has rising job employability and opportunity statistics is a safe bet.
Additionally, with the more flexible options of online degrees or degrees that only take around 18 months, more and more students are turning towards a college education to find themselves a career they love.
