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The U.S. economy is dealing simultaneously with high unemployment and a labor shortage. ResumeBuilder.com recently asked 1,250 unemployed Americans who lost their jobs during the pandemic about their job searches or why they are not seeking employment.
"The data from this study show there are a multitude of reasons why people aren't re-entering the workforce," career counselor Stacie Haller said.
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"Concerns about COVID-19, child care or even how to update a resume can trigger job-search anxiety and make it challenging for people to continue looking for work."
Not surprisingly, fear of contracting COVID-19 is the more common reason for not seeking employment.
Thirty-one percent of respondents said they are concerned about getting the virus, while 23 percent cited a lack of access to child care. One-third of baby boomers have chosen retirement instead of going back to work
Respondents also said they aren't applying for jobs because none are available in their area, an indication of how temporary and permanent COVID-related business closures are affecting the economy.
Twenty-two percent of respondents said they are making more money on unemployment than they would working, and 22 percent said they are earning as much from unemployment as they would from a job.
Although many factors are beyond an applicant's control, 20 percent of respondents said they are not looking for jobs because they don't want to update their resumes. Gen Xers are most reluctant to revise their resumes, with 26 percent citing that reason. Only 15 percent of baby boomers said they dread updating their resumes.
Haller is not surprised by these statistics. "Developing and updating a resume is a daunting task for most people," she said. "Many do not know where to start, what the best format is and how to grab the attention of prospective employers. Many people are also concerned with how to address, or not address, employment gaps or how to overcome any missteps in the past. It also marks the beginning of a job search, which many find to be stressful and overwhelming."
For many workers, the biggest challenge is figuring out how to fit decades of work experience into a two-page document, she said.
"Many people feel that their experience is important and they must keep everything they did listed in the hopes that someone will value this dated experience above other candidates," Haller said.
"However, in most cases, this is not true. Employers want your most current demonstrated skills that fit the position to which you are applying. The experience you gained 20 years ago may be irrelevant and outdated in today's world, and hiring managers will rarely make it to that section of your resume before they are on to the next candidate."
She recommends using unemployment as an opportunity for individuals to give their resumes a facelift and focus on more recent work experience and responsibilities.
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
