Jobs available for those looking despite pandemic
Much of the world is mired in a recession not seen since the Great Depression. Canada is no exception, with jobless numbers taking a large jump over the last month, the unemployment rate hitting 13 per cent in April. There are still jobs to be had, however.
Some employers are looking to hire, though the job market is certainly unconventional just now, compounded by fears of the novel coronavirus. Some see frontline positions as a scary place to be, but there are resources available to assist those looking to work.
An application called Swob was launched by Alexander and Stephanie Florio back in 2007 with the goal of connecting students in search of parttime work with employers looking to fill vacant positions.
“Swob is a job app we created with a specific focus on students and younger jobseekers, and more of a focus on higher turnover industries like restaurants, retail and hospitality,” explained cofounder Alexander Florio.
In today’s COVID-19 environment, more than 100 employers are actively using Swob for recruitment. With more than 20,000 users on the app, Swob is an option for those looking for a job in those sectors. Even today, the app continues to see job postings and user activity.
“We still have seen a lot of users, and a lot of users have reached out to us wondering if employers will still be posting in this time. For us, it’s really important for employers to know we still have candidates looking for job opportunities, and we want to make sure our users
Plant trees! “Millions of Canadians are out of work, and meanwhile, tree nurseries across Canada are growing millions of seedlings,” says registered professional forester Rob Keen, CEO of Forest Recovery Canada. “Jobseekers can be trained to plant these seedlings. This is an opportune time to mobilize the labour force, including our youth, with a national tree-planting strategy.”
He also claims tree planters can keep their distance if they so choose.
They typically work apart, a minimum distance of two metres between each other.
And finally, he adds that planting organizations across Canada prepared procedures identifying sanitation rules and protocols for planting crews to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Good stuff.
Forests Ontario, which is affiliated with Forest Recovery Canada, says the 2.5ish million trees it plants annually creates about 300 seasonal rural jobs.
That’s significant. On Tuesday, the Rural Ontario
Institute issued a fact sheet on the rural employment impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting how rural women are experiencing the brunt of the job loss.
The good news? Either gender can plant trees.
Admittedly, this is seasonal work. And it’s a lot harder than doing nothing. But it has an allure for those who can handle it.
So does farm work. And now’s the time for the sector to make it seem alluring too – which it is. Seeing the fruits of your labour is gratifying. And the jobs are right around the corner.