TULSA, Okla. — 22 million Americans are now out of work. And for those who do have jobs, the coronavirus pandemic has changed how they’re working.
As part of the Tulsa Regional Chamber's “Business Support Series,” Barbara Endel said the pandemic accelerated an already changing job future.
“The implementation of artificial intelligence, the application of advanced technologies," Endel said. "Just the automations that’s kind of happening to not just jobs, but like tasks in jobs.”
As senior advisor for Jobs for the Future, Endel said the top five sectors most affected by COVID-19 are mining, oil and gas, transportation and logistics, employment services, travel, and leisure and hospitality. She thinks technology advancements will affect 20 to 50 percent of jobs and change the way an employer looks for future employees.
“Someone who has a lot of flexibility and agility and a growth mindset to deal with all of the changes because the shelf life of skills is going to be so much shorter," Endel said.
And because of those changes, people looking for a job are going to need more resources and training.
“We’re going to have to become faster," said Sabrina Ware, director of Tulsa Works and Goodwill Industries of Tulsa. "We’re going to have to understand technology. We’re going to have to understand Microsoft Office and Google Docs. We’re going to have to be better prepared."
Ware said they provide programs for people to gain new skills for jobs, which will be needed after the pandemic.
“Let’s get better prepared so that you can not only have the credentials but job interviews," she said. "Making sure you’re comfortable with that. Making sure you have the social cues so you can keep a job.”
Some of their training programs are available online right now. You can learn more about those here. Their website also has a job board here.
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