Career Change

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to upend workers' lives, more people than ever are looking to change careers. Career coaches and workers say one important factor is job loss: having side gigs and earning additional income are critical during a time of economic upheaval arising from pandemic-caused disruptions. But the growth of remote work and the shuttering of offices during the pandemic also have led Americans to reassess their work-life balance and to seek more meaningful employment. The result, according to economists, is the “Great Resignation,” in which large numbers of people are quitting their jobs in 2021. Career coaches say they expect the trend to continue because of the ongoing pandemic and other factors, such as automation and changing technology, both of which are altering many occupations, from insurance claims adjusters to Border Patrol agents. They note that the career change trend includes blue-collar workers and, notably, women, who often seek more flexible schedules as they juggle career and family.