Which Sectors Need Contractors During Covid-19?

A recent coronavirus report conducted by IPSE indicates that 74 percent of freelancers feel they’re at risk of experiencing contract delays or cancellations, while 60 percent fear they’ll lose clients due to Covid-19. As many businesses cut back on spending, projects have been cancelled or put on hold. With the possibility that social distancing combined with economic stresses will affect many businesses for the foreseeable future, it will be useful for contractors to identify where their skills will be most needed.

Research shows that 68 percent of freelancers are planning to use their savings to see them through the crisis, while 38 percent are considering or applying for income support. Although the government have announced a number of financial support schemes to help protect those who can’t work during the lockdown, contractors may find they are able to transfer their skills to an area outside of their usual industry.

While growth in many sectors has come to a standstill, there are many industries that are experiencing demand as the pandemic changes the way people live and work. There’s currently an urgent need for frontline workers in all areas of healthcare, food retail and logistics, with short term rolling contracts on offer. However, economists have also predicted that as we come out of the crisis, many businesses will switch to temporary talent to keep up with the many long-term changes that the pandemic will create.

The pandemic has underscored the need for workers to thrive outside of traditional office settings. This could benefit contractors who are used to quickly adapting to unconventional working arrangements while understanding how their specialist skills can add value. Deferral of the off-payroll reform until next April means that contractors will be able to take advantage of these new market demands. The following areas are experiencing urgent or growing demand for contingent workers.

Transportation: The demand for home delivery during lockdown has created extraordinary opportunities for couriers and delivery services, especially those that support last mile delivery. It’s expected that the shift in customer expectations around home delivery will continue post lockdown and remain in high demand.

Ecommerce: In response to the lockdown measures, businesses are quickly moving their businesses online. This requires warehouse operatives, parcel delivery people, and those with digital skills to help manage the current demand. In particular, online platforms like Amazon are experiencing a huge surge in orders and also urgently require staff.

Food Retail: Most major supermarkets including Asda, Tesco, Morrison’s and Co-op are offering fixed term and temporary contracts with next day starts. Warehouse operatives, shelf stackers and HGV drivers are needed and candidates should contact their local depot.

Farming: A 'Feed the Nation' labour campaign has already successfully signed up 10,000 British people to help pick fruit and vegetables on farms across the UK. Workers will receive 3 weeks of paid training, free insurance, and most farms are paying National Living Wage or more. There are approximately 90,000 jobs that still need filling.

Call workers: Virgin Media is creating 500 new UK call centre jobs to deal with the high volume of customer calls. The roles, which are being advertised on both a permanent and fixed-term basis, are based in Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester and Teeside.

Logistics: Both the surge in ecommerce and the move towards home delivery has presented logistical challenges. Those with experience in logistics will be in demand to ensure the continued viability of the supply chain.

Tech: As organisations move to home and virtual work settings, there’s been a shift towards on-demand technical talent to help organisations stay productive despite the disruption. Remote work and the demand for critical tools and technologies has renewed interest in freelance expertise in cyber security, privacy and data with demand for quality engineers and software developers.

Artificial Intelligence: Corporates are likely to move forward from the crisis with trimmer workforces, invariably using freelancers across the board. Many businesses will reduce workers and automate processes. Technology skills around autonomous warehousing, drone delivery, robotics and 3D printing will be in demand, as will IT specialists and project managers skilled at AI, machine learning, and big data.

Specialist Consulting/Project Management: As the economy emerges from crisis, experts are predicting high levels of project activity. Demand will be for experts who remotely consult on various industries: IT, life sciences, energy, industrials, automotive, consumer & retail. Skills may include supply chain reimagining, rapid workforce scaling and reductions, financial analysis, cost restructuring, and the ability to lead/accelerate post-merger integrations and digital transformation.

Healthcare: NHS are asking doctors, nurses and midwives who may have recently retired, switched to a non-clinical role, or moved into private practice to return to the service. They also need people with transferrable skills such as scientists, academics and lab technicians. Chemists like Lloyds Pharmacy are currently looking to recruit 1,500 workers, while home care workers are also in high demand.