By Artur Meyster
The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the disappearance of some professions, but it also has open new job opportunities. If you are in a career with fewer opportunities or are unemployed, then this article is for you. These are some pandemic-resilient jobs that will continue to be in high demand.
Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals are an essential profession in our society. They are heroes without capes, but many times we don’t appreciate the hard work and passion they put into their jobs. Healthcare professionals aren’t just doctors—registered nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians, home care aid professionals, and many other professions help us when we need it.
They stepped up to confront the most challenging part of the Covid-19 pandemic: taking care of the sick. They have been risking their lives since March by having direct contact with people with the virus. In 2017, the US had 2.8 hospital beds and 2.6 practicing physicians per 1,000 people. This was three years ago, without all the people going to the hospital for Covid-19 complications.
This profession has always been in high demand, more so during Covid-19. Healthcare professionals will continue to be needed in our society even when the pandemic is over.
Warehouse Workers
An area that saw massive growth during the pandemic was e-commerce. Companies like Walmart or Amazon have employed thousands of new workers to try and meet the demand. But, even after six months, these companies continue to hire. One of the main positions they are hiring for is warehouse workers.
E-commerce businesses, at least the big ones, manage all their products in different warehouse locations around the country. Amazon even has locations worldwide. So, they need thousands of people to keep operations going. These positions include package handler, data entry, warehouse picker, warehouse associate, and production worker.
The positive side of these kinds of jobs is that you don’t need any qualifications to apply. They are well-paid, considering you only need a high school diploma or equivalent. The negative side is that you may need to lift heavy weights during working hours.
Data Scientist
Data scientists are the ones who collect, organize, and analyze data generated from all software, applications, and devices. This profession has increased in demand as more technology is introduced in our society. Twenty years ago, many families only had one computer in the household, if at all.
But now everyone has at least one supercomputer that they carry around everywhere they go—their smartphone. Plus, all the smart home appliances that are normal today. All these devices are continually collecting data and sending them to each app and software provider.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of these devices only increased. So, data scientists work with companies to get powerful insights from all this information. The positive side is that the place technology has in our life will only grow from now on. You will have job opportunities for the next ten years.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the attempt to make a machine simulate human intelligence. Some AI techniques include machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, and support vector machines. It is already being used in many industries, if not all, including social media platforms, fintech, healthcare and gaming. AI is also powering other technological developments and scientific discoveries.
That’s why professionals in this are in high demand. Plus, not many people choose this career path. It needs high-level skills like math, algebra, and statistics. But it’s not impossible to learn. You can actually do it without going to university by enrolling in a coding bootcamp.
A machine learning engineer makes around $140,000 per year on average. So, you will enter a sector that is impacting society and will make a lot of money while you are at it. And if you choose to work in this area, you can also work in the data science and Big Data analytics niche.
Full Stack Development
As mentioned above, the e-commerce industry had a surge in demand during the pandemic. But they weren’t the only industry using digital means. Almost all industries rely on online platforms to keep their operations going. For example, restaurants started offering delivery services when people couldn’t go to their locations. And universities now offer all their courses online.
But, who do you think created all these platforms? That is the job of full stack developers. These professionals design, develop, deploy, and maintain all the platforms and apps we used on our phones and computers. All the companies creating delivery apps or online customer service websites where hiring full stack developers to do the job.
They were probably also helping companies update their software to meet the demand of its customers. These developers are well-paid and will continue to be in high demand in the foreseeable future.
UX Design
User experience (UX) designers can work in different areas of the tech industry. But basically, they are the ones that create a product that offers a smooth and intuitive experience to the user. They can work in projects for web, app, and software development.
They are in high demand because, for companies, it is not enough to have a website or platform. They also have to offer an enjoyable experience to the customer. A UX designer can work as a researcher, interface designer, or product designer. And you can become one with a few months in a coding bootcamp.
If you are creative, interested in tech and new developments, and want a career path with a positive outlook for the future, this may be the right choice. You will learn about branding, animations, and how to work with a team of developers to create beautiful results.
In Summary
If you want to get a job that survives the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to thrive in the future, then the healthcare and tech industries will be your best bet. The tech industry is growing, and with it, the job opportunities that will open.
Even the increased opportunities in warehouse jobs are the result of higher demand in e-commerce, which is possible because of technology. Do your research and take the best option for your life goals.
Artur Meyster is Founder and CTO at CareerKarma.
