2020 Job Seeker Nation: COVID-19 Affects Americans’ Work and Home Lives
In a recent blog post, we shared several of the highlights from our 2020 Job Seeker Nation Report.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an immense strain on job search and recruiting processes, it is our goal to help recruiters and employers understand the mindset of today’s job seeker, so they can adapt accordingly to ensure they are hiring the best candidate. This post shares some of the key findings from Job Seeker Nation as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Stress is Real
It comes as no surprise that stress levels at work have significantly increased for American workers, however, one in three (33%) report a somewhat increased stress level at work while nearly one-quarter (22%) report a drastically increased stress level.
The same goes for the job-seeking process. Sixty-nine percent of workers believe the job-seeking process is now more stressful than it was three months ago, including 41% who report that it is ‘a lot more stressful.’
Who thinks job seeking is more stressful?
| Gender | Females: 49% | Males: 34% | |
| Political Affiliation | Democrats: 46% | Republicans: 38% | Independents: 37% |
| Employment Status |
Recently furloughed workers: 62%
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Workers who are employed: 39%
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Workers who are unemployed and looking for work: 43%
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Job Loss and (In)security
Over the past three months, workers have become less secure in their position in the marketplace. Job Seeker Nation found that 39% of workers feel at least somewhat less secure than they did three months ago, including 22% who feel much less secure.
In addition, one in every four American workers reports that they have lost a job or have an immediate family member who lost a job due to corporate downsizing within the past year. And nearly half are worried about losing a job in the next year or who have an immediate family member who shares that same fear.
Who is most likely to have experienced a job loss?
| Workers under 40: |
30% have lost a job or have someone in their immediate family who has lost a job
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| Those with children at home: | 34% |
| Workers in the West: | 30% |
| Workers in the South: | 28% |
Facts We Can’t Ignore
While an increased level of stress and job insecurity may be expected, the Job Seeker Nation survey uncovered some alarming statistics. In the past month (March/April 2020), one in five (19%) surveyed workers or members of their immediate families have gone without food for 24 hours due to a lack of money. This is most likely to have happened to males (23%) and workers with children at home (29%).
Want to help? Visit Feeding America’s website.
Job Interviews and Offers
Candidates today are connecting on their own terms. Workers report that their preferred methods for job interviews in the current COVID-19 job market are:
In-person interviews:77%
Phone calls:67%
Videos:45%
Email:32%
Text messaging: 31%
PRO TIP! Check out these 6 Tips for Connecting with Candidates via Text and Automation.
| What influences accepting a job offer? | February % | April % |
| Compensation and career development | 61% | 61% |
| Company values and culture | 38% | 52% |
| Company’s location and facilities | 45% | 57% |
| Quality of work | 42% | 50% |
| Job security | 31% | 38% |
Side Hustles
American workers’ interest in having a second source of income outside of their regular jobs has increased. Forty-six percent of workers surveyed in April say they plan to have a second source of income outside of their regular 9-5 jobs, compared to 36% in February
Download the Full Report for More
These are just a few of the key findings comparing the state of job-seeking before COVID-19 and during the pandemic. Download the 2020 Job Seeker Nation Report today for hundreds of additional statistics, insights, and action items to help talent professionals navigate the current recruitment market, understand the motivations of today’s job seekers, and optimize the hiring process to attract the best candidates for today and tomorrow!