COVID-19 Stalls Careers

Careers derailed

May 6 2021 - A recent survey of more than 500 professionals conducted for global staffing firm Robert Half shows that over a quarter (27%) felt that their careers had stalled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This proportion increased to 55% for Gen Z professionals - those aged 18 to 24.

A separate poll of 600 senior managers conducted last year showed that 49% of respondents postponed the promotion of top performers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 61% of those respondents said they worry about staff retention as a result.

Workers experiencing a stalled career reported feeling stuck when it came to:

  • Salary growth: 62%
  • Career advancement: 62
  • Skills development: 42
  • Ability to grow own professional network

Some professionals admitted to being ready for a career change: 28% of respondents said that their perspective had changed because of the pandemic and now they wanted to pursue a more meaningful or fulfilling job.

David King, Canadian senior district president of Robert Half said:

"Along with significantly changing the hiring landscape for job seekers in Canada, the pandemic has also interfered with employees' career trajectories.

"As we look toward the future and a more active job market, now is the time for organizations to put programs in place that are designed to retain top talent.

"This includes specific initiatives that will appeal to younger workers and opportunities for all employees to build skills and advance their careers."