By Patrick Quinn

It’s been six months since COVID-19 first took off across the region as the country’s initial epicenter. And thousands of people in the state are still maneuvering through a changing job landscape as a result of the economic fallout with thousands of layoffs.

“Almost immediately I knew I was going to have to go in a different direction,” said Scott Cresswell, who lives in West Seattle. Creswell said he was furloughed in April from his hospitality job. And within a month he was laid off.

For the first time in 20 years, Creswell is job-seeking, back in the interview process. “It’s pretty difficult. Right now there’s just so many applicants for every job. It’s tough to stand out especially if you’re not from that particular industry.”

Last week, there were 18,172 new unemployment insurance claims, according to the WA Employment Security Department. That marks a 1.2 percent decrease from the previous week, but a 270 percent increase compared to August 2019.

“Really at this point the scale of the problem is so large,” said Ryan Davis, Executive Director of the Seattle Jobs Initiative. Davis said slowly, some sectors, including construction, technology, and healthcare are finding stability. “Thousands of healthcare workers were furloughed temporarily,” said Davis. “Slowly they’re starting to come back to work,” said Davis.

He said from acute care to long-term care, the industry is starting to draw interest from people shifting from other fields.

Davis said the pandemic has mostly affected people under the age of 35, those without a college degree, and communities of color.

“The COVID crisis has really surfaced those fractures in inequities,” Davis said. “So communities of color or persons of colors were more likely to be in those entry-level jobs in hospitality and food service. As part of our recovery, it’s essential that we as a community come together to address those inequities and make sure there are opportunities for our communities of color.”

Davis said he’s already hearing from some Seattle businesses they’re recognizing value in diversity.

“Employers are starting to put inequities at the center of how we measure success, so it’s promising," Davis said. "We still need to execute however.”

Davis said addressing digital inequities will also need to be a priority to help support job-seekers.

He said most jobs now require an online application and a ZOOM or similar digital platform interview.

As the country awaits a second stimulus package from Congress, Davis said federal aid will be essential to support the unemployed, while saving some sectors from further downfall.

“The federal government needs to act first. And then the states and local governments can then move in along with all the community-based organizations and other non-profits like us. We can start working together to build that recovery.”

At Seattle Jobs Initiative, Davis said they work with job-seekers and employers to place people in living-wage jobs.

He said right now he’s helping connect people who want a career change and those who need a job to escape unemployment.

For Cresswell, he’s open to pivoting from the hospitality industry to logistics, communication, or teaching.

“You learn through this unfortunate pandemic that nothing lasts forever, and maybe it’s time to reexamine your priorities and where you want to be and what would make you the happiest," Cresswell said. "There’s a lot of folks out here that are great leaders and great team players that are ready to be loyal employees and ready to take your company to the next level, they just need a chance."

Read the original story here.