Wondering what once-familiar spaces like offices and restaurants will look like as coronavirus lockdowns end is the subject of much speculation. That’s understandable, given that there may well be months or years between at least some spaces returning and the discovery of an effective vaccine. As more and more businesses are opening back up, there’s a growing sense of what new positions might need to be created to manage concerns over COVID-19 going forward.
At Bloomberg, Jeff Green and Steve Matthews explored the jobs that may not have existed before this year but which may prove to be essential in the months and years to come. The array of potential jobs, and companies looking to fill them, is wide-ranging:
Amazon.com Inc., for instance, plans to check the temperatures of staff and visitors to its offices when they reopen, and is hiring lab workers for its own virus tests. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is considering adding elevator attendants to prevent too many people from pushing buttons, people familiar with the matter said last month. McDonald’s Corp.’s guide for its restaurants includes having an attendant manning self-serve drink stations that are open during peak hours.
Green and Matthews also note that thermal scanners are one of the most popular and widespread new positions, citing examples of some people who have already begun working in such a role. Contact tracing is another rapidly growing field.
At a time of increased unemployment, the creation of new jobs may come as a welcome announcement to some. Green and Matthews do note that the threat of infection has unnerved some job seekers, though — for understandable reasons. It’s another glimpse at the near future, and an interesting exploration of the changing patterns of everyday lives.
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