REGIONAL ROUND-UP
AFRICA APAC EUROPE MIDDLE EAST NORTH AMERICA
THE FIVE BIGGEST LOSERS OF THE PANDEMIC
Research by Connectr , a leading HR tech platform for building businesses where people belong , has revealed the five groups hardest hit by the pandemic .
1 . Underrepresented talent ( 19 out of 20 ) – During times of social and economic uncertainty , it is often those from lower socio-economic backgrounds that are the worst affected . During the pandemic , these groups are less likely to have had access to support networks and technology , making working virtually incredibly difficult . This is hindering career progression , building on preexisting workplace injustices . For example , in the Financial Services sector , people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds take on average 25 % longer to develop in their careers .
2 . Hospitality industry ( 18 out of 20 ) – Throughout much of 2020 and 2021 , the industry was forced to place thousands of people on furlough due to COVID-19 restrictions effectively bringing the whole sector to a halt .
Even now that businesses have been able to reopen , many of these workers have decided not to return , finding new industries to work in . This has created a new challenge , leaving hospitality bosses with a significant employee shortage .
3 . University students ( 17 out of 20 ) – With many businesses pausing recruitment during the height of the pandemic and so many internships and placements being cut , opportunities for graduates simply weren ’ t there . In addition , ‘ on campus ’ events moved online . This has been better than nothing , but the virtual environment often fails to give students the same results and networking opportunities as inperson interactions , putting them at a disadvantage compared to previous cohorts when attempting to enter the workplace .
4 . School students ( 14 out of 20 ) – Young people have missed out on vital classroom experiences during the pandemic . Interacting with and learning from peers , face to face teaching and developing softer skills are all crucial to future success . For many , home learning was not possible due to a lack of tech , space or broadband capabilities . There were also fewer opportunities for work experience , which can be critical in introducing young people to career options available to them and equipping them with the knowledge and confidence they need to pursue a specific path . According to the ISE ’ s Recruitment Survey , released in November 2021 , the number of internships and placement years offered did rise between 2019 / 20 and 2020 / 21 .
5 . New starters ( Eight out of 20 ) – Onboarding during the pandemic and numerous lockdowns has been tough , stopping people from building important in-person relationships with colleagues . As with any new role , ‘ learning by osmosis ’ is crucial to progression , belonging and longterm successes . This isn ’ t happening for millions of new starters who are joining the workforce from home . This will likely have a detrimental effect on the speed at which they can progress . x www . intelligentcxo . com
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