It’s a new year and a new opportunity to find the career that is meant for you. January is the perfect time to begin to set new goals, and look toward the future. So, what can you expect from 2023?
First and foremost, hiring is still happening. There have been a number of layoffs in recent months, but most are in specific industries. And, only a small portion of employees are impacted.
These layoffs do not mean that the entire job market is down. The United States unemployment rate in November was 3.7%. This shows the market is still strong overall.
A big focus of 2023 will be the diverse work options available. With the pandemic, many companies went fully remote. As time went by, some companies asked employees to come back to the office full time.
Other companies have created hybrid models that allow employees to come to the office a few days each week and work from home the remaining days. Employees will begin to seek out opportunities that align to their lifestyles.
It is interesting to note there are fewer work-from-home jobs being posted, and they are receiving a high volume of applicants. If you’re a hiring manager, you might want to keep this in mind.
Lifestyle also will continue to be a large focus in 2023. In the past two years, employees have prioritized health and quality of life more. There will continue to be an emphasis on work life balance. Employers will continue to test out new benefits, such as mental health days.
Wages will continue to rise during 2023. However, do not expect to see the large jumps we saw in the previous few years. If you are looking for a new job, do your research. Sites such as Glassdoor and LinkedIn will help you to understand what the current pay rate is for your role, in your industry.
When you are job searching in 2023, consider the industry that you are looking in. There are some sectors, such as financial services, travel, and government contracting that are seeing growth this year. There are other sectors such as tech that are less stable.
No matter what sort of job you’re pursuing, the time to get started is now. Do not sit and wait for a job to find you. Make your job search a priority.
If you haven’t looked for a job in a few years, brace yourself. Things have changed. The online application process is long. It can be discouraging. You will apply to many jobs without ever receiving a reply.
Know that this is normal now. It’s not you, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Hang in there. Keep moving forward, and you’ll find something in the New Year before you know it.
Angela Copeland, a leadership and career expert, can be reached at www.angelacopeland.com.