Nearly a third of U.S. workers under 40 considered changing careers during the pandemic

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

When Orlando Saenz was laid off at the end of January, he was devastated. For nearly a decade he had worked as an executive assistant at an Austin law firm and it was hard to envision his next steps. But then it dawned on him: This setback could be the kick he needed to finally finish his associate’s degree and seek a better career.

A few days later, Saenz, 40, enrolled in community college. He plans to get a paralegal license. The enhanced unemployment aid gave him the financial cushion to “treat school as my job,” he said, for a few months.

“If you come out of the pandemic the same as you were, you’ve missed an opportunity to evolve and grow as a person,” Saenz said. “I just realized I needed to do better.”It’s not a ‘labor shortage.’ It’s a great reassessment of work in America.

Saenz is not alone. Nearly 1 in 3 American workers under 40 have thought about changing their occupation or field of work since the pandemic began, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll, conducted July 6 to 21. About 1 in 5 workers overall have considered a professional shift, a signal that the pandemic has been a turning point for many, even those who did not contract the coronavirus.



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/08/16/us-workers-want-career-change/

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I think this was a foregone conclusion. That's the prime age group with young and adolescent children and/or who have time to pivot careers.

There are more localities offering free Community College and even starting with a 2-year associate degree there (or 2 years of credits), they could eventually transfer to a regular 4- year college/university if desired.

[Srkdqltr]

1. Good for them. A shake up is good . Shame it had to be a pandemic.

[Lemon Lyman]

2. Yup

The ACA helps too. If you're not dependent on your employer for your HC coverage, it frees you up to look elsewhere.

[IronLionZion]

3. Adapt or die

I'm under 40 and have always done this to survive.

[madville]

4. I changed my career earlier this year

Would have done it in 2020 but the pandemic actually delayed my plans about a year. I was a federal civilian employee for a branch of the military, could have easily done that another 14 years and gotten to a 30 year retirement. I was bored with it though so decided to embark on a new adventure and am working at a power plant now for a municipal electric utility. The pay, benefits and retirement are all better than the federal government so that made the decision easier but it was more about learning something new and different.

[ybbor]

5. Over 50 here and left my job with COVID as the nudge

I have asthma and was a high school teacher in a red portion of MI. I had been tired and burned out anyway and this was the last straw.

Started a handyman business and I am making a lot more money (which is a very sad state of the teaching profession) and I am a lot happier.

I was discussing my displeasure with my job to a friend and he asked why I was still there. I replied “health care” and he said that I could more than pay for a plan for my family on the marketplace and still make more money. On my way home I called my wife, she was so supportive, and it was done.

I have had so many jobs in my life and I am very happy to be my own boss. The only kid I need to worry about is my own, and the only parents who I need to deal with are my mom and my in-laws.

So I can thank Covid for that. Still am scared shitless of it and got my vaccine the day I was eligible.

Having healthcare as the only reason to stay at a job is a sad state of affairs.