Career Corner: The 9 Most Important 2022 Career Trends

Man taking talking on the phone notes on the couch

While it is the health impact of the pandemic that is of course of the utmost importance, it also cannot be denied that is has caused tremendous upheaval among jobs. As we approach two full years of Covid, it has accelerated some trends and also introduced some new ones.

In a post for Finances Online, they examine what patterns we are now seeing in relation to jobs. Enough time has passed to be able to make an educated guess what trends will endure into the new year. Being cognizant of them can help you prepare in your own career.

More Unemployment

Though layoffs have died down at this point, people are still losing jobs, though now it is voluntarily. Work conditions have created what is known as the “Great Resignation” where people are more willing to leave jobs that aren’t doing it for them. Analysts predict that risk-taking strategy will extend into 2022.

More Automated Job

Some companies have responded to the labor shortage by looking to replace laborers altogether. It is a natural process that some jobs will eventually become so efficient that machines can take them over, but it is undeniably taking work away from workers.

Social Media Being an Employment Factor

As much as employees hate it, employers continue to check up on your social media accounts. Finances Online cites that 70% of employers do so. It is understandable how easy it is for an activity to go viral and damage reputations, but it is also aggravating for those who value their privacy.

More Freelance Work

Many who were laid off decided not to just wait around for companies to start hiring again. More people turned to either starting their own businesses or else selling their services to whoever needed them rather than devoting to any one company.

Technology Making New Jobs

Technology does not just automate jobs to the point of making people obsolete. New technological advances also produce new careers. Finances Online cites that in France alone, the internet took away over 500,000 jobs over the last 15 years, but it also created over 1.2 million.

A Retiring Generation

Aging never stops, so baby boomers were always closer and closer to phasing out of work roles. But the new challenges of Covid threw a lot to learn at a generation that has already seen a lot. These new hurdles are prompting many older workers to move up their retirement plans so they can step away from the stress of working during Covid.

More Wrong Fits for Roles

A side effect of remote work is more companies were willing to hire people who were further away. However, this can also lead to people being so disconnected with an area or company that their skills are not as transferrable as they thought.

Personal Skills Are More Valued

Humans are social creatures, and few people enjoyed the increased isolation of so much social distancing. This has now made people skills a much more valued quality, in some cases more so than what you can learn with a degree. Though technology is always the future, people still crave the personal touch when they can have it.

Know the Technology

Perhaps the biggest accelerated trend is our dependence on digital tools. Employees who were not computer savvy had to learn quickly in an era of remote work and Zoom conferences. Even if the “new normal” comes to an end, there is no going back with technology, so don’t drag your feet on learning the software and apps that you hear everyone mentioning.

You can never fully predict what a new year will bring, but you can certainly develop expectations based on the past. These trends from 2021 could be your best guide for what 2022 will start by showing us more of.

To learn more about why these trends will be on the rise, be sure to check out Finances Online’s post here.

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Wilmington University, the sponsor of DELCO Today — Career Corner, is a private, open-access institution that serves more than 20,000 adults, including those seeking advancement through higher education and traditional-age students who aspire to become successful global citizens.

One of the most affordable private universities in the Delaware Valley, WilmU is committed to the idea that finishing an undergraduate degree or obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree can be affordable and accessible.

The University offers over 200 accredited and career-relevant degree and certificate programs in flexible online and hybrid formats designed to accommodate adults of all ages who work full- or part-time or juggle demanding career, family, and personal schedules.

Learn more about WilmU here or register to attend one of the University’s webinars. You will find information about academic programs, flexible scheduling options, tuition, admissions, student services, athletics, and more.

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