This archive report was first published on 24 October 2021.
Published on October 24, 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the global workforce, leading to widespread job losses and a shift in priorities for many workers.
As companies downsized and loyal employees were sent packing, a key lesson emerged: loyalty should be to learning and improving oneself, rather than to the employer.
According to CNBC, in August 2021, 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs, with the quits rate rising to a high of 2.9 per cent. This trend was not unique to the US, with Kenya also experiencing significant job losses, particularly in the private sector.
The Economic Survey revealed that 737,500 workers lost jobs in the private and public sectors, with the informal sector shedding over 543,000 jobs. Overall employment sat at 14.5 million as of December 2020, with private-sector jobs falling 10 per cent from two million in 2019 to 1.8 million in 2020.
Women suffered disproportionately, with overall wage employment among women falling by 10.3 per cent compared to four per cent among men.
For many workers, the pandemic has been a catalyst for change, with some turning to the gig economy or starting their own businesses. Dennis Naibei, a civil engineering graduate, left his job as a site agent with Vista Windows and sought refuge in unfamiliar fields, eventually landing an unconventional job as a casual labourer in a construction firm.
Caroline Kariuki, who was sent packing in a mass layoff by a stationery factory in Kasarani, opened a household items' shop that has been thriving. She regrets not considering self-employment earlier, saying, 'Had I known, I would have made sure I start a business while still employed.'
Paul Kang'ethe, unaffected by the layoffs, learned valuable lessons, including the importance of being multiskilled and investing in agribusiness. He also learned to save for a rainy day, aware that informal jobs can be unpredictable and may not provide a stable income.
