I have recently been reading about jobless recovery and the effects this will have on both corporations and job seekers.  To begin with, the term “jobless recovery” refers to a specific type of recovery after a recession.  This recovery is defined as an increase in gross national product without an increase in employment opportunities.   Or at least without a return to the level of unemployment that existed prior to the recession.  I could go on and on about the whys of this and they all make sense to me, but I am more interested in the individual impact, specifically to our clients and candidates.  In other words, it is what it is, (one of my favorite sayings) so what do each do now?

For a job seeker there are many things to focus on throughout the search, but most boil down to self-management.  This has become the prevailing theme in what determines a successful job search (defining career goals, strategizing, executing said strategy consistently and with discipline,  being flexible, continually and actively learning, etc.)   Sometimes you just need someone holding you accountable to successfully maintain these goals.   It is a different world out there now where there are simultaneously more candidates and fewer jobs (meaning positions that were eliminated and will remain eliminated).  As a result, job seeking is a process to be finessed and managed, not simply an outline of steps to be taken to get the next job.  

For corporations who are managing this same trend, what are the biggest challenges?  Is it the emotional state of the remaining employees after a high impact restructuring?  Is it finding the resources to adequately cover the responsibilities formerly handled by the displaced employees?   Is a culture of mistrust and fear created?  Does it depend on how it is handled?  I know from my job within CareerCurve that the clients (corporations) go through their own brand of turmoil when decisions like this need to be made, but it would be interesting to better understand what it is like for them after the changes occur. 

Is anyone aware of some good conversation taking place on this topic that I may have missed?  I think many times the focus is on the displaced employee alone, but the reality is that this ”jobless recovery” affects individuals and corporations alike.  And then our society as a whole.  The impact is huge and I look forward to your comments and resource recommendations.