Coronavirus Outbreak’s Impacts on U.S. Employer Demand

While the total impact on our economy will take months to unfold, EAB is providing initial analyses of regional labor market data to inform program planning conversations.​ Consider this early data in your portfolio planning conversations, as well as the recommended questions for discussion.

As the novel coronavirus entered and spread within the United States in early 2020, stay-at-home orders immobilized economic activity. Hiring freezes, furloughs, and layoffs defined the summer months. EAB has continued to monitor regional and nationwide labor market data to inform your program planning conversations. Use these analyses and the included discussion questions to consider how to adapt your portfolio for COVID-19 and the pandemic economic recovery.

A job postings analysis and discussion guide

Consider this early data in your portfolio planning conversations, as well as the recommended questions for discussion. Use the menu on the left to navigate to geographical data.

U.S. national data Changes in job postings volume

Questions for initial discussion: How did the United States economy react to the coronavirus outbreak across April through September? Has the nationwide public health and economic response been consistent, or have we experienced improvements and declines throughout?How do our recent job posting trends contrast to this time last year? To what extent do we see this reflected in our students’ behaviors?

-31%

Decline in postings from April-September 2019 to April-September 2020

Changes in top occupations advertised regionally in April-September 2018, 2019, 2020 Top occupations Top occupations for associate-level professionals

Top occupations for bachelor’s-level professionals

Top occupations for advanced degree professionals

Questions for initial discussion: Which roles experienced increased demand in 2020 relative to 2019 and 2018? To what extent would past trends encourage us to anticipate a…