'The big quit': How the COVID-19 pandemic led people to re-evaluate their careers
In the first year of the pandemic, tens of thousands of people lost their jobs as some Ontario businesses were shuttered and others were slapped with strict capacity limits.
But in 2021 there was a shift. As businesses reopened again, there were some people who decided not to return to their old positions. Others decided to make a change after a year of working during the pandemic, choosing to enter a new career or field of work.
After a year of job loses, employment in Ontario finally started to rise about six months ago. In November, Statistics Canada said that the province’s unemployment rate was finally back below pre-pandemic levels.
Ontario has gained about 421,000 jobs since May—a month in which nearly half the jobs lost in Canada were reported in Ontario.
On this week’s episode of Life Unmasked, two experts join the team to talk about what changed in those six months.
Brendon Bernard, a senior economist with Indeed, discusses what industries are hiring, what kind of jobs people are searching for and what employees are looking in terms of work-life balance. Following that Lynn Imai, a career counsellor with Canadian Career Counselling, goes into more detail about what she calls ‘the big quit’ and why so many people started to reconsider their priorities during the pandemic.
The team also speaks with some listeners about why they decided to take a leap and change careers in the middle of a pandemic.
Life Unmasked airs every week first on iHeart Radio before becoming available on other streaming platforms. If you have questions for the podcast team, or an idea for an episode, please email lifeunmasked@bellmedia.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.