Career Center

How Will Inflation Affect the Job Market

From small businesses to large corporations, inflation affects businesses of all sizes. Is inflation having an impact on the job market? Workers are demanding higher wages because the cost of living is rising. Employers are cutting costs to make a profit.

A look at how inflation may affect hiring

Even though unemployment is expected to rise, hiring won't necessarily decrease. Companies will not slow down hiring; they will change the way they hire.” In an effort to reduce costs, employers are expected to hire multiple part-time, contract, or "gig" workers instead of hiring one full-time employee to perform a particular task.

It is cost-effective for companies to hire these types of workers since they won't have to pay for expensive benefits like healthcare. Not to mention, companies can usually bring them in at a cheaper rate than a full-time employee.

Despite the ongoing labor shortages, research suggests that companies could break into the gig economy with minimal barriers. According to a recent survey, workers are already moving in this direction to compensate for low wages. A survey found that 85% of workers have increased or plan to increase their gig work in the past six months, with 58% citing inflation as the reason. 

How to Adjust Salary for Inflation

As a result of high inflation, workers are requesting more money to cover the higher cost of living. Over the past 12 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly jobs report shows wages have increased by 5.6%, while prices have increased by 7.9%. That's a pretty big difference.

It is likely that employers are reaching their limits regarding how much more they can pay workers, but Santangelo says they will have to address these concerns on a case-by-case basis. Bartenders' hourly rates, for example, are likely to differ from vice presidents' annual salaries. But Santangelo says, “Measures of bargaining power are the common theme between both individuals. ’”

If employers don't have the budget for the typical raise percentage, they will need to get creative if they want to hold onto good employees. According to a report, job seekers' top priorities are fair wages and monetary compensation above and beyond salary.

 

Are we headed for a recession as a result of inflation?

Recessions are not primarily brought on by inflation. Recessions are typically brought on by things like rising interest rates, a drop in confidence, a decline in bank lending, and a decline in investment. Cost-push inflation, however, has the potential to cause a recession, particularly if it exceeds nominal wage increases.

As inflation rises and consumer spending cuts are already evident, fears of a recession are rising. “Historically, whenever inflation is as bad as it is right now—which it was back in the late 1970s—the way that the government fights inflation is by plugging the economy into a recession. That is going to happen.”

Fortunately, there are steps companies can take to insulate themselves for when the economy goes south. From investing in marketing to prioritizing customer service, employers should brace themselves for what appears to be the inevitable.

Human costs are always associated with recessions. The fact that you can avert a severe recession in the future by experiencing a modest recession now may provide some little solace. The cause of severe recessions is overleveraged businesses and household investments in failing assets. Recessions cause businesses that were just hanging on to fail and unwise investments to lose money. On a longer time scale, recessions also compel labor and capital to relocate to potentially more productive locations.

In light of global inflation, here are a few tips for your job.

1. Keep your skills up to date

The process of learning never ends. In order to stay relevant in the market, you must upscale your skills from time to time. Digital Marketing, Data Science, AWS, and other digital skills are in high demand right now. You can up level your skills and grow along with the company by taking courses on such skills.

2.Take part in team activities

The ability to get along with everyone in a work environment is essential. Put the team first. It does not, however, entail engaging in office rumours. Be a team member who increases the efficiency of the team instead. You will win trust and respect as a result of this. You will once more contribute to your employer's success by adopting a team player attitude.

3.Work harder than usual

There is no replacement for a hard day's effort. It's time to increase your output and prove to everyone that you are a crucial component of the company. You must take care to avoid being one of the unproductive employees that employers typically fire. Give your all to increase productivity. Your chances of being fired significantly decrease if you bring in more business for your organization.

4. Be punctual

Nobody enjoys being late, especially now when productivity and efficiency are more important than ever. Be on time for work and refrain from taking long breaks. Additionally, being on time and avoiding time wasters will provide you additional time to complete your task on schedule. Try to be on time and to have a solid attendance history.

5.Ask for feedback

Even though you are acting ethically, are people still impressed with your work? Ask for feedback rather than assume you are doing a good job to see if you can deliver satisfying results or not. Feedback will also assist you in working in a manner consistent with the expectations of the firm. Feedback can show you where to focus your effort so that you aren't blindly firing in the dark.