As a resume writer, I’ve watched the decline (but not extinction) of manufacturing. Unfortunately, administration and retail jobs will follow. That’s why career counsellors are so important.

This economic crisis is brutal with workers in the hospitality, tourism, retail and the entertainment industries.

Qantas has made massive redundancies and its rival, Virgin Australia, has collapsed.

The crisis will accelerate existing structural changes in the labour market such as the rise of casual work, working from home and quickening the pace of algorithms to replace rote administrative work.

Jeff Borland, a professor of economics at the University of Melbourne, says the recession will spell bad news for some sectors.

“During past recessions, manufacturing was very vulnerable as many jobs could be automated. It accounted for more than 20% of the workforce in the 70s but now represents just 7%.

Manufacturing is not the only sector that has declined in the last 30 years.

Back in 1991, 21% of the working population was employed in the retail and wholesale sector, compared with 13% in 2019. Agriculture has also halved from 5.5% to 2.6%.

Construction, which expanded to employ 13% of the workforce by 2019, is in the doldrums thanks to a slump in building approvals, but governments will throw money at infrastructure projects to keep people in work.

There will be a need for more telehealth workers and this will leave healthcare technology companies well placed to benefit and create jobs.

The aged care sector, which has been appalling, will need more staff (and better managers).

Transferrable skills such as digital literacy, data analytics, cybersecurity, robotics and AI, will be crucial for young people to develop.

Emotional intelligence, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and creativity will be crucial.