A new iHire survey of 2,871 job seekers revealed that 61.8% of workers are considering a major career change in the coming year. Of that percentage, nearly half (28.6%) of respondents said a change is “very likely.” The interest in changing careers is a direct result of COVID-19’s impact on the U.S. labor market, according to iHire.

“Job seekers are exploring alternative industries not only due to layoffs, but also because their sectors – such as hospitality, culinary, and travel – have changed dramatically due to COVID-19 restrictions,” said Steve Flook, iHire’s President and CEO. “In some cases, people are changing careers because of the high demands of working in essential industries, like healthcare, throughout the pandemic. With our industry-focused job search technology and tools, iHire is uniquely positioned to help these professionals make successful transitions.”

In response to the surge in career changers, iHire launched Career Explorer, a feature now available to Premium members. With Career Explorer, job seekers indicate which occupations interest them and which transferable skills they’d like to utilize in a new role. Using advanced job matching technology, iHire’s platform then recommends job titles and additional iHire talent communities to guide career changers toward new opportunities.

Right from the Career Explorer interface, candidates can click on recommended job titles to learn more about a particular career path – average salaries in their location, typical on-the-job activities, and levels of preparation, work experience, and education needed. Job seekers can even opt to receive email alerts for open positions in relevant alternative industries.

Aside from Career Explorer, iHire continues to provide valuable resources for job seekers jumping to a different sector. Candidates can browse iHire’s career advice library, research salaries in their desired new industry, and work with a certified resume writer to highlight their transferable skills on their resume. Premium members can also access a live Career Advisor as they embark on their new journey.

Find out how iHire has been helping job seekers find work during COVID-19: https://go.ihire.com/60c3.

A total of2,871 U.S. job seekers responded to iHire’s survey in September 2020. Respondents came from iHire’s database of active and passive job seekers across 56 industries.