At the beginning of the new year, a "wave of layoffs" struck again. Under the wave of technological innovation and industry change, industries such as education and training, offline retail, traditional** and manufacturing industries are facing unprecedented challenges. This "cold wave" has not only put many enterprises in trouble, but also caused countless employees to face the haze of unemployment.
First, the education and training industry is on the verge of ice
The education and training industry used to be prosperous, and all kinds of cram schools were blooming everywhere. However, the rise of online education has broken the barriers of traditional education. Nowadays, a mobile phone or laptop can allow children to learn the lessons of leading masters at home. Bustling cram schools are no longer a must-have for parents, and many traditional tuition institutions have been emptied. The educational concept of "accumulating virtue and cultivating talents, self-cultivation and family" has been replaced by "miscellaneous examinations and impetuous comparisons", and the ecology of the education field is undergoing silent changes.
In the face of the impact of the Internet era, it is not easy for traditional education and training enterprises to transform. From choosing the technical route of live broadcast or recorded broadcasting, to how to compete with the largest education giants; From the skill transformation of the teaching team, to the polishing of product design and user experience. Everything needs to start from scratch, and the rebirth of traditional education enterprises needs to be completed in a limited time. This undoubtedly puts a lot of pressure on the management team. Many traditional tuition institutions have collapsed in this round of shocks, and the rest have been defeated.
The situation of education and training practitioners is also not optimistic. A large number of teachers are facing the dilemma of reduced salaries and class hours. In the Internet era, the scarce teaching resources in the past can suddenly be replicated and widely disseminated, and the provision of high-quality teachers is no longer limited by geographical limitations. Traditional teachers need to struggle to adapt to online teaching and compete with high-calibre teachers from all over the country. If they can't improve the quality and attractiveness of their teaching, they will inevitably be eliminated.
Second, the retail industry is hit by a cold snap
At the same time, the once crowded shopping streets are becoming more and more deserted. The overpass is empty with only a few pedestrians, and the mall behind it is filled with faint echoes. It is said that buying and buying is the best medicine for the soul, but now people are more willing to shop. Brick-and-mortar retail businesses have been losing ground under the onslaught of e-commerce, and many are facing the pressure of losing their jobs. What do we miss are those familiar street scenes, crowded crowds, or the excitement and satisfaction brought by consumption? The progress of civilization is often accompanied by the disappearance of some regrets, how do we balance tradition and innovation?
With the advent of the mobile Internet era, online shopping has become a consumption habit for most people. The pressure on physical store space continues to intensify, and many traditional enterprises are facing a huge impact. While e-commerce is conquering the city, factors such as high rents and rising labor costs have also made physical retail enterprises worse. Many established department stores have closed down one after another, and huge shopping malls are also shrinking in size. The blazing summer has been hit by a cold snap of closures, and the retail industry has reached a stormy moment.
This "wave of retail layoffs" has left many sales and property workers directly facing unemployment. Even if they stay on the job, they will have to endure the reality of declining incomes and reduced benefits. At the same time, consumers are paying the price of this change. You can't find the product you want, and you don't know where it's available, making shopping a hassle. People have to go back and forth online to buy what they need.
Third, the media industry is withered
In addition, newspapers and magazines have faded not only because of the quality of printing. The impact of the Internet has caused its advertising revenue to drop sharply, and sales have continued to decline. Resignations, layoffs, and closures have become the routine operations of these established media. What the editors are struggling to support is not only their performance, but also their sense of mission to inherit truth, goodness and beauty. How can we preserve the professionalism and value of traditional journalism** and bring it back to life in the digital wave?
With the prevalence of 5G and smartphones, users no longer rely on newspapers and magazines to obtain information, and user habits have changed dramatically. The newspaper industry is already in an existential crisis as advertising and circulation continue to shrink. Many veteran editors and reporters have chosen to leave, and the media industry has lost valuable talent in the mass layoffs. When press freedom is being suppressed by all sides, impartial and independent reporting is even more difficult. While the diversity of information available to people is beneficial, it is worth pondering whether some value and wisdom are also missing.
Fourth, the manufacturing industry is in a dilemma
If the education, retail and ** industries are experiencing an ice and snow storm, then the manufacturing industry is facing an existential decision. Under this dual wave of globalization and automation, the development of China's manufacturing industry is in a dilemma, and many traditional industries are facing a devastating blow.
With the transfer of the industrial chain to Southeast Asia and South Asia, China's manufacturing industry is falling from "the world's factory" to "the world's processing factory". The low-tech processing and assembly industry has moved south, which has caused a large number of manufacturing workers to lose their jobs. At the same time, industrial robots and automated production have led to a significant decline in the demand for manpower, and more jobs have been eliminated. Manufacturing workers in a double dilemma are forced to leave their jobs as their companies transform or close down, and their skills and experience are at risk of being "environmentally protected".
In the face of changes in the external environment, China's manufacturing industry urgently needs to transform and upgrade. However, from industrial restructuring to scientific and technological innovation to management model innovation, all kinds of transformation have a long way to go. Whether or not we can successfully break through the current predicament will be related to the status of a manufacturing power and the stability of employment. This is not only a matter of life and death for the enterprise, but also about the fate of countless employees.
Fifth, change is the norm, and we must look to the future
Whether it's education, retail, or manufacturing, all industries are experiencing varying degrees of pain under the baptism of technology and market change. But we must not simply resist change, but be sensitive to opportunities.
In the face of unknown changes, each of us needs to be prepared for change. Work is not only a means of earning a living, but also a channel for us to realize our self-worth. When certain jobs are replaced by machines and algorithms, how can we unlock our potential and create new ways of working? After all, human power needs soil to nourish it, and how can we pave new paths for those who are "laid off"?
In this era of rapid change, the only thing we can be sure of is the change itself. Every progress is accompanied by pain, and every reform needs to be discarded for the new. We can't resist all change just because we're used to the past, and we can't be in a hurry to change everything. What matters is how to strike a balance between change and inheritance, and find opportunities in crises.
In the face of the surge of unemployment, we need to stay focused. Because every innovation opens new doors, and every crisis contains unlimited business opportunities. What we need to do is not to run away, but to prepare for new opportunities. As long as we are not afraid of change and dare to innovate, we will be able to open up a new world in the wave of change.