Express Employment Professionals’ America Employed and Canada Employed series explore the state of employment in North America, including everything from hiring expectations and HR challenges to job seekers’ optimism and shrinking the skills gap. Learn about the latest insights uncovered in a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.
The consequences of prolonged unemployment are taking a significant toll on job seekers, affecting not only their skills and confidence, but also their mental health and networking opportunities.
For U.S. job seekers, only 22% of those who are unemployed have been without work for more than two years, a significant drop from 40% in Spring 2023. The most common effects of extended unemployment include:
- A decline in hard or soft skills – 41%
- Gaps in work experience – 37%
- Loss of confidence – 34%
- Reduced networking opportunities – 29%
- Decreased awareness of industry trends – 23%
For Canadian job seekers, unemployment is led by voluntarily quitting (33%) and being laid off (17%). Unemployed job seekers’ concerns about skill deterioration, gaps in experience, and more align with the issues companies face in hiring.
- 32% of companies report having open positions they cannot fill.
- Companies attribute this to a lack of applicants with relevant experience (45%), a lack of applicants with hard skills (44%), and a lack of applicants with soft skills (32%).
To combat the setbacks of unemployment, staffing industry experts suggest making the most of the situation by sharpening skills, obtaining a certification or microcredential, networking, or volunteering to maintain expertise.
Read more about the latest employment insights in America Employed at ExpressPros.com and Canada Employed at ExpressPros.ca.
