In this post Emma Le Blanc discusses how Covid-19 is changing the context for careers work in the UK. This post originally appeared in Medium on the 12th June 2020.

The two biggest sources of concern in the UK pre-Covid-19 were Brexit and the Climate Emergency:

Brexit. The biggest collective worry many people had last year was Brexit, i.e. there were people who wanted to remain and people who wanted to leave the EU. It was a topic that caused great stress, anxiety, frustration, and anger. On the 31st of January 2020 the UK formally left the EU.

Climate Crisis. Another source of major shared concern was and still is the environmental crisis. Last, year 6 million people worldwide protested about the world being in climate crisis.

Covid-19

The biggest global concern right now and in the following months is Covid-19.On March the 23rd 2020 the global pandemic, Covid-19 precipitated lockdown in the UK, instituted by the government. Our lives have radically changed since this landmark date. We have had to embrace the ‘New Normal’ whether we like it or not. We were ordered to stay at home and not to interact with people outside of our household. We have had to adhere to the edict “Stay at Home, Save Lives, Protect the NHS.”

People who are not self-isolating but merely social distancing have been allowed to go out to the shops for essentials and exercise for one hour a day. NHS and social care workers and other key workers have continued to work on the frontline to keep the nation running. Many people have become used to working virtually and home schooling has become a common feature of family life. Some people have been furloughed; others have received support from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme whilst others have had to apply for Universal Credit.

Specific community members are more vulnerable to contracting Covid-19 and suffering from its adverse impacts

UK Citizens are struggling with their physical and mental health, social and emotional well-being, and finances. Particularly people who were disadvantaged in our society prior to this pandemic such as: the long-term unemployed, the working poor, precarious workers, informal workers, homeless individuals, sex workers, people who have substance misuse issues, asylum seekers and refugees, lone parents, older citizens, BAME community members and people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. Furthermore, these groups are not only more vulnerable to contracting Covid-19 because of health reasons but predominantly because of socio-economic reasons (poverty, poor or no housing, living in overcrowded conditions, being consigned to low paying and insecure work, the high cost of living etc.) (See Jones, Bibby et al and Daly).

What will a Post-Covid-19 world look like?

Miliband highlights four competing factors that may influence the post-Covid-19 world. They are:

1. Globalisation
2. Democracy
3. Citizen privacy
4. Inequality

These factors may potentially be in greater crisis globally than they were before this pandemic.

Owen Jones, the famous left-wing journalist predicts that:

When the pandemic is over, when a vaccine shields us from this cruel disease, the rich will still prosper, while the struggling and insecure will be expected to pay: they already are.

Some of the challenges CEIAG professionals face in a Post-Covid-19 world

CEIAG professionals will be working with clients who are experiencing multiple difficulties which will be compounded by the impact of Covid-19.

Some challenges will include:

• People having less disposable income because we are going into a global and UK recession.
• Higher unemployment rates globally and, in the UK.
• An increase in benefit claimants.
• People and groups who were in poverty pre-Covid-19 being in dire financial hardship.
• Mental health issues rising (related to financial insecurity, loss of jobs, fear of contracting the Covid-19 in the future, fear of travelling on public transport etc).
• Certain sectors in the UK labour market growing (e.g. health and social care, education, the Civil Service, food production, tech, transportation, telecoms and utilities) and others contracting (retail, hospitality and catering, travel, aviation, the arts and culture etc.) (See Ballard).
• People of all ages who have lower education, qualifications and skills will be at an even bigger disadvantage in the labour market than they were pre-Covid-19.

How can CEIAG professionals be positive agents of change in a post-Covid-19 world?

It is my belief that CEIAG professionals can be positive agents of change in a Post-Covid-19 world by:

• Placing social equality and justice at the heart of CEIAG delivery.
• Normalising that the world is Volatile Uncertain Complex and Ambiguous when working with clients of all ages as part of our daily CEIAG practice.
• Being aware of Political, Economic, Social Technological, Legal and Environmental factors that impact on society and our CEIAG practice and clients lives.
• Being more community focused.
• Helping to develop and build individual and community assets.
• Collaborating more imaginatively with non-traditional stakeholders.
• Having up to date LMI knowledge so that we can help clients better.
• Assisting clients to be more adaptable and resilient so they can successfully manage unexpected life and career transitions.
• Promoting lifelong learning.
• Encouraging clients to up-skill.
• Encouraging clients to re-skill.
• Supporting clients to think of other ways to future proof their careers.
• Promoting clients’ awareness of their employment rights.
• Helping clients to think about ways that they can promote their physical and mental well-being.
• Helping clients to focus not only on their problems but on finding solutions to the challenges they face.
• Encouraging clients to develop and cultivate self-help skills.
• Empowering clients to not only help themselves but also others in their families and/or communities.

Finally, the careers and education sector will undoubtedly need additional government investment to remedy the impacts of Covid-19. Also, Education and Careers policy needs to be more responsive to the needs of our clients and the future world of work to: promote social justice, reduce social and economic inequalities and equip people with the skills, knowledge and opportunities they need to succeed in the local, national and global labour market.