While 2020 was one of the most difficult for workers, 2021 is a different story. “We’re in the midst of a recovery where many sectors are rebounding and looking to hire,” says JedKolko, chief economist for job-search website Indeed. Even locations where the economic recovery was once slow have seen big gains in employment as more people get vaxxed. And while a full recovery isn’t here yet, as long as vaccination numbers continue to increase and outbreaks don’t shut cities down, “people go out and start spending and the economy opens up,” Kolko says, So where are the jobs? All that time we spent at home meant a big demand for home remodelers, landscapers, builders and garden designers; a new appreciation for the value of helpers like licensed nurses, mental health specialists, teachers and tutors; as well as a new recognition for careers in delivery and e-commerce. Browse through the gallery above to see individual paychecks from some of America’s hardest workers; read on below for jobs created during the pandemic and trends we should be paying attention to; and click for our coverage on donating celebrities. 343,000: That’s how many leisure and hospitality jobs were added in June 2021 as consumers ventured out to eat and travel. 2.7%: That’s how many U.S. workers left their jobs in April 2021, the highest rate in 20 years. The reason: The pandemic forced them to rethink their priorities, experts say. 30% of Americans will still be working remotely by the end of 2021.
Pandemic-Created Jobs
We brought the stores to us in 2020, which is why e-commerce, warehouse and delivery jobs surged during the pandemic and are still booming. So too did the need for COVID tracers, temperature takers and remote-work supervisors. Another hot career: Dog trainers. Director of remote work is one pandemic-inspired job that’s here to stay. Companies like Facebook, Quora and LinkedIn have created positions to help virtual workers navigate the complexities of a remote workforce. ShannonHardy, who’s been with LinkedIn for more than eight years, became the company’s vice president of flexible work this past April. “Flexibility means many different things to many different people,” says Hardy, who handles flexible work issues for the company’s 16,000 employees. “One size does not fit all.” Median pay: $121,220/yearEducation: Bachelor’s degree or higher Personal shopper, package handler and driver jobs skyrocketed during the pandemic when e-commerce went wild. Hiring grew 73 percent year-over-year, according to a January 2021 LinkedIn report. Salary range: $42,000–$56,000/yearEducation: 75 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher, says LinkedIn. Dog trainers are in demand as all those pups we adopted during the pandemic are surly, rebellious adolescents now, and sorely in need of some training, not to mention some long-overdue socialization. Average salary: $64,800 (average salary for those without formal dog education training is $46,222)Education: High school diploma, formal education/certification in dog training
The Nesting Boom
If you turned a critical eye to your living space during the pandemic, you’re not alone. Over the past year, many of us fixed up tired rooms, added home offices, planted gardens and built patios or porches for outdoor entertaining. “Our residential business was through the roof,” says BrittWood, CEO of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, which represents 1 million workers who do everything from lawn maintenance to swimming pool installation. “We attribute it in large part to people spending more time at home.” 28% of consumers renovated their homes or set up a gym or workspace during the pandemic.30% of consumers are eager to splurge on items for their home post-COVID.7%: That’s how much employment in building material and garden supply spaces was up in spring 2021 over the previous year. Landscapers maintain the grounds of properties, from homes and businesses to hospitals. They may design gardens, plant, mow, fertilize or weed. Median pay: $32,220/yearEducation: While there are no education requirements, some employers may want formal education or certification in design, horticulture or arboriculture. Loan and mortgage experts evaluate and process loan applications for mortgages. Hiring for these jobs jumped nearly 59 percent from 2019 to 2020, according to LinkedIn. Median pay: $63,960/yearEducation: Bachelor’s degree Customer service associates and cashiers check out customers, answer questions and help maintain the storefronts or retail locations. Job site Glassdoor says Lowe’s Home Improvement is one of the Top 15 companies experiencing a “COVID-19 hiring surge,” with 200 listings just for cashiers across the country. (They also need sales specialists, store managers and overnight stockers.) Median Pay: $25,020/yearEducation: High school Construction Managers plan, coordinate, budget and supervise construction projects. U.S. News expects the unemployment rate for construction managers to be 1.5 percent, well below the national average (5.9 percent as of June). Median pay: $97,180/yearEducation: Bachelor’s degree
The Helpers Market Is Hot
If we learned one thing from the pandemic, it’s that health care workers play an absolutely critical (and once-underappreciated) role in our lives. On LinkedIn, job openings in health care and social assistance were up 54 percent compared to last year. As of early August, Indeed had more than 1.2 million openings for health care workers. And don’t forget the vital role teachers, tutors and other educators played during the pandemic too—all jobs that are hot right now. According to LinkedIn, hiring for traditional teachers (primary and secondary), support workers and tutors grew more than 20 percent between 2019 and 2020. If you’re looking for work with meaning and job security, consider the following. 15%: That’s how much health care jobs will grow over the next decade387,000: The number of openings for nurses on Indeed in August 2021 Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners do everything from diagnosing health problems to monitoring medical equipment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts jobs to grow by 45 percent from 2019 to 2029. Median pay: $117,670/year Entry-level education: Master’s degree Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors work with people who suffer from addictions, eating disorders, mental health issues and behavioral problems. Jobs will jump by 25 percent from 2019 to 2029. Median pay: $47,660/yearEntry-level education: Bachelor’s degree Professional and personal coaches help people and organizations figure out new directions. Hiring for coaches increased 51 percent from 2019 to 2021, according to LinkedIn. Salary range: $44,300–$50,000Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree Home health and personal care aides care for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and help them with everything from getting dressed to grocery shopping. As boomers age, the demand continues to grow, by as much as 34 percent from 2019 to 2029. Median pay: $27,080/yearEntry-level education: High school diploma Education Professionals bore a massive load during the pandemic, quickly figuring out new ways to plan curriculums, teach and manage online learning. Hiring for teachers, support workers and tutors increased by more than 20 percent from 2019 to 2020. Salary range: $46,500–$63,200/yearEntry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
The Tech Boom
Software Developers work in a number of areas across almost every industry, from cybersecurity to website creation. Software jobs have been hot for a while, but now more companies are relying on AI to help meet surging demand—and prevent all those hackers. 22%: That’s how much the need for software developers is predicted to grow by 2029. Education: Bachelor’s degree or higherMedian pay: $110,140/year Want to see how salaries have changed through the years? Check our past salary surveys. What People Earn 2020 What People Earn 2019 What People Earn 2018 What People Earn 2017 What People Earn 2016 What People Earn 2015
