A New study finds Many New Jerseyans have actively considered pursuing a new career paths during the pandemic

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Bloomfield NJ,  Survey research shows that many young New Jerseyans have strong reservations about the current job market in a COVID-19 economy, with the reported 140,000 job losses across the U.S. in December only reinforcing their concerns.

According to new research 64 percent of New Jersey residents polled, ages 18-35, are not confident that all office jobs will come back after the pandemic. The study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Universal Technical Institute (UTI), surveyed 2,000 Americans aged 18-35 across California, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The study also found that 66 percent of New Jerseyans surveyed have actively considered pursuing a different career during the pandemic—one that makes them happy.

“People want to be fulfilled and happy going to work each day,” said Shawn Alexander, President of UTI- Bloomfield. “They also want something stable, a career that remains in demand and offers upward mobility even during tough economic times.”

Graduates of top trade schools like UTI can quickly find highly technical, hands-on work in the automotive and transportation industries—jobs considered essential in the COVID-19 economy.

That’s good news for the 51% of New Jersey survey respondents looking for a new job that would allow them to avoid office work. Nearly half of New Jerseyans surveyed also said they had been pressured to take a conventional career path through college.

Among all states surveyed, the average respondent said they began thinking about a career change at the age of 28, but 68% of respondents said it’s never too late to pursue a new career. Industry demand for trained technicians is expected to remain high through the pandemic and beyond. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated pre-pandemic there would be more than 110,000 job openings for auto, diesel and collision repair technicians on average annually across the U.S. through 2028. During an economic downturn, people and businesses keep their vehicles longer and trained technicians remain in demand to maintain and service them.

“Making a career shift through training for a skilled trade is not only possible, but it can also be extremely rewarding,” said Alexander. “Demand for automotive technicians remains high despite the current economic climate. Transportation industry careers can be highly technical and rewarding jobs with great earning potential, upward mobility, and stability.”