After a record number of workers left their jobs in the early part of the decade in what was known as the “Great Resignation,” the American workforce has entered a period now dubbed the “Great Reshuffle,” according to the World Economic Forum. 

“While quit rates remain high, hiring rates continue to outpace them as many workers have been transitioning to other jobs in search of an improved work-life balance and flexibility, increased compensation, or a strong company culture,” the US Chamber of Commerce reported.

Although some workers left the workplace entirely during the pandemic, some since have returned to the labor market in a new role. Data from the US Census Bureau’s Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics program show a shift in employment within subsectors of industries since the pandemic ended, rather than a total change from one specialty to another.

“Analyzing industry subsectors rather than just industry sectors captures job shifts within and across industries, painting a richer picture of how frequently workers changed jobs during the pandemic,” wrote Hubert Janicki of the Census Bureau. 

For example, Janicki noted, workers within the professional, scientific and technical services industries were more likely to shift to jobs within a subsector than to find work in an entirely different field. The percentage of workers who switched jobs from professional, scientific and technical services to an entirely different industry declined to less than 60% in 2022 from 65% in 2005, he said.

Senior living and care industry advocacy groups across the country are working together to boost knowledge of career pathways for those working in long-term care. 

For example, LeadingAge Minnesota and Care Providers of Minnesota recently announced a collaboration on an online resource meant to help prospective workers in long-term care pursue a variety of career opportunities.

The site, CaringCareersStartHere.com, includes resources that offer an in-depth look at six distinct career pathways in long-term care: social services and life enrichment; therapy and rehabilitation; housekeeping and maintenance; direct care and nursing; culinary and hospitality; and administration and operations support.

In the Sunshine State, the Florida Health Care Association and the Florida Assisted Living Association are working together on an initiative that will include informational meetings with state and federal stakeholders, a public awareness campaign and combined communication to support member recruitment and retention efforts, emergency preparedness and response, and coordination of care.