When the outbreak of coronavirus which started from China, was first announced by the World Health Organization, (WHO), it seemed a distant disease for Eric, a hotelier in Nairobi, Kenya. China was thousands of miles away and that meant life would continue, without any interruptions, at least in Africa and Nairobi in particular, or so he thought.

But by February, when the first case was reported in Africa and the pandemic started spreading rapidly across the continent, and eventually, in Kenya, Eric’s customers started to dwindle.

Later, health protocols aimed at stopping the spread of the disease were announced by WHO and adopted globally. As a result, the government of Kenya announced a lockdown resulting in the complete shutdown of all non-essential businesses and organizations, mostly, the highly labour-intensive and larger contributors to employment sectors of the economy. The service sector became the most badly affected in this regard.

In the city of Nairobi, Eric’s employer, like many others globally, was forced to make some of the workers’ furloughs until the situation normalizes. Eric, the breadwinner of a family of five, unfortunately, was affected.

To say that the global lockdown measures have resulted in massive labour market dislocations that could amplify the medium-term impact of the economic crisis, will be an understatement. The near-term job losses from the coronavirus pandemic could be more impactful than implied by the GDP contraction, according to the latest Economics Dashboard from Fitch Ratings. 

Global job losses have risen sharply following lockdowns. The lost working hours are estimated to be equivalent to more than 300m full-time jobs, according to ILO. The Director-General of this UN agency, Guy Ryder, has indicated that the crisis would have a “massive poverty impact” among the 1.6bn people working in the informal economy worldwide. He also estimates that global working hours in the second quarter of 2020 will be 10.5 per cent lower than their pre-crisis level in the last quarter of 2019.

In Africa, the pandemic period, according to a report by the African Union, has seen an estimated 20 million people involuntarily out of work—swelling the existing unemployment burden on the continent. Altogether, trade between Africa and the rest of the world is at its knees. “Exports and imports from African countries are projected to drop by at least 35 per cent from the level reached in 2019. Thus, the loss in value, as a result of job losses, is estimated at around 270 billion US dollars.” 

These events, obviously leave no one in doubt, that the world has completely transformed, making it highly unlikely that things will just go back to exactly the way they were before. Series of modifications, for example, are expected at most workplaces, and with it, the skills and competencies businesses will require. Now is the time for fast and bold learning, making the luxury of time to disappear completely. Businesses that had plans to roll out their digital strategy in one- to three-year phases, for example, are now forced to fast track these initiatives in a matter of days or weeks to survive the competition.

However, as far as employees are concerned, the real dilemma for individuals like Eric who have been forced out of jobs, and even for the fortunate ones in their current positions, is how to avoid being jobless in the post lockdown?

From Human Capital International, our research team presents you with these 4 essential strategies in a post-coronavirus job-related world.

1. Adaptability and continuous upskilling are no longer an option 

Wisdom teaches that people change for two reasons: either you learn enough that you want to change or you’ve been hurt so badly that you have no option but to change. If there is one thing that needs no debate about the effects of COVID-19, it is the fact that the pandemic has brought and accelerated a lot of changes and affected the ways businesses operate.

Many businesses are either reshuffling staff internally or relying on experts working remotely to support their operations, leading to massive job losses.

Let’s all accept it, there is nothing like “jobs for life” in any sector anymore. And the earlier you learn to adapt and embrace flexibility to continuously update and upskill to ever-evolve yourself at the workplace, the better. In this unique moment that the world has been forced into, any individual can learn and progress more quickly than ever before. Your ability and readiness to quickly learn from and adjust to the pandemic crisis will deeply influence your performance and relevance to your employer, thereby providing you, the opportunity to retain your job.

This is the time to deeply appreciate the fact that life doesn’t change by itself, but you must bring the desired change. As such, holding on to the unchangeable past is a complete waste of energy that serves no purpose in creating a better future for yourself in the new normal. If any silver lining can be found in these uncertain times, it is in the falling barriers to self -improvement, agility and continuous upskilling to augment your value at the marketplace and to your employer.

Now is the time to reassess the digital and systemic thinking capabilities that can position you strategically for a post-COVID-19 crisis world. Embrace reality; this world is forever changed. Playing it safe now without adapting and upskilling, understandable as it might feel to do so, is the worst option in this uncertain time. You either shape in or shape out.

 Related article: Post-Lockdown: How C-Suit Executives Can Protect Their Employees At The Workplace.

2. Prepare for the pace and trend of change in your industry 

Typists were once considered valuable employees in companies. Then the advent of computers made such skills irrelevant to the job market. What the pandemic has therefore done, is to bring to the fore, the most relevant and non-essential skills in the marketplace. You could have been laid off because you allowed your industry to outgrow your capabilities. Critical self-evaluation of the trend and pace of change in your industry, the skills and competencies required, and your willingness to commit to doing everything possible to prepare to meet those requirements is your only assurance of triumphing in the job retention quagmire many people are facing as a result of the pandemic-related changes at the workplace.

As Arie de Geus, a business theorist puts it: “The ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage.” The pandemic has accelerated the death of many skills and equally created new opportunities that require new skills and competencies. Be proactive, follow the trend and pace of change in your industry, and decide never again to allow your industry to outgrow and outclass you. The Igbos of Nigeria proverbially say that “a bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground.” Getting a new job without upgrading your skills is taking two steps forward and one back. So, as you look to a better tomorrow, anticipate the pace and trend of change in your industry and adequately prepare for it such that you can become the active captain of your professional and career ship.

3. Develop Digital, Data Analytics, and Systemic Thinking Skills 

As an employee, you need to quickly adapt and acquire digital, data analytics, critical, and systemic thinking skills to justify your relevance in the 4th industrial revolution, which has been hastened by a post-coronavirus-world. This is non-negotiable.

The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled many businesses to explore creative ways of becoming more resilient to the current disruptions. An example is the huge investments by businesses into fast-tracking digital transformations, leading to virtual replacements for their previously physical offerings, and new ways of making them accessible with minimal physical contact. The use of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet, and robotics are all now a big part of business operations systems. Hence, the employees with the skills that can help their companies exploit these technologies will, no doubt, be at a greater advantage.

In the new normal, data, for example, has become a critical asset for every business, because, with the right data, you can serve your customers with the right products and services and better predict the impact of future business disruptions. In one European survey, for example, about 70 percent of executives from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland said the pandemic is likely to accelerate the pace of their digital transformation.

The pandemic has suddenly ushered businesses into a digital future world, one in which digital and data analytics has become central to every interaction, and forcing both organizations and customers further up the adoption curve.

4. Face tomorrow with optimism

Losing a job is no doubt a huge kick in the gut for many, especially in Africa where the dependency ratio on the employed is extremely high. When a job loss occurs, the individual who has lost it does not only lose a source of livelihood and social networks but equally jeopardizes the livelihoods of their dependants.

It is particularly difficult, especially during this time when the pandemic has forced most companies to suspend the hiring of new staff. Jumping into another job is not a walk into the park.

Despite this, job loss does not mean the end of your life. It is rather a rare opportunity to reflect on how to programme your career and professional life to confront difficult and uncertain times.

This article will interest you: The Inspirational Leadership Imperative in Times of Crisis

Robin Sharma said in his book: The Leader Without A Title that “Hard times only feel bad. In truth, they serve us so very well. They make us tougher. They connect us to our dormant potential. Yes, they make us feel uncomfortable. Yes, they create confusion within our minds and provoke fear within our hearts. But the reality of the matter is that the conditions that challenge us the most are the very conditions that lead to our greatest growth. And to our most fulfilling achievements.” Human beings are wired with the potential to survive many difficult situations and losing a job, is one of such conditions.

The daunting question is “how are you prepared to accept this reality and confront it head-on?” Never at one-point feel pity and consider it as a self-inadequacy in a job loss. If you do, you may not get up on your feet. Be positive in your thoughts and be prepared to face tomorrow with optimism.

The New You

According to the World Economic Forum, in just five years, 35 percent of the skills deemed essential today will change. The good news, however, is that improving your skills has never been easier. Today, it doesn’t require years of study to build up your skillset. Even amid the pandemic, there are endless free and open online courses available that will help you improve your skills or develop new and relevant capabilities. Remember, Dr Spencer Johnson in his book: Who Moved My Cheese says “Sometimes, things change and they are never the same again.” This COVID -19 period looks like one of those times. That’s life! Life moves on and unfortunately, today, there’s only one way to remain relevant in a post-coronavirus reality: committing to data literacy, creative thinking, and a lifetime of learning and upskilling. Embrace this new normal with optimism and you will like the new you.

Good luck!