Challenges for CEOs around the globe
U.S. CEOs think vaccine distribution will have an outsized impact on their businesses, according to a report from The Conference Board. They see the vaccine availability as a game changer, ranking it second among external challenges. Comparatively, CEOs worldwide rank it third.
The survey also looked at CEOs’ view of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEOs globally rank reduced business travel as the most likely long-term impact, followed by expectation for automation to accelerate. U.S. CEOs rank office space as the most likely long-term impact of COVID-19, though they are also more eager to have staff return to the physical workplace, as compared to their global peers.
Strict lockdowns affecting consumers
Strict lockdowns in Germany are affecting consumer confidence, according to a study from GfK. Eighty-one percent of German citizens view COVID-19 as a significant or very significant threat to Germany, with only 15% reporting they feel the pandemic is not a significant threat or do not view it as a threat at all. In addition, 54% are very or quite concerned about the economic impact of the crisis on their futures.
GfK is forecasting a decrease of 15.6 points in consumer sentiment for February 2021, which would be down 8.1 points from January of this year (revised to 7.5 points).
The latest survey was conducted January 7-18, 2021. Read more.
Stress and gender divide persists
Findings from Alter Agents’ third and final wave of research on consumer fear and anxiety among U.S. adults show a continuation in reports of stress and a persistent gender divide. Overall, 38% of respondents say they’ve experienced increased stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty-seven percent of Hispanic respondents report experiencing higher levels of stress as a result of the pandemic, up from 31% in June 2021.
Parents are still reporting uneven amounts of stress, with 44% of moms saying they’re under more stress, as compared to 31% of dads who say the same. Dads (21%) are more likely than moms (10%) to report working more hours since the pandemic began. Sixteen percent of dads say that fewer demands on their children’s time during the pandemic has been a good thing, and 9% of moms agree.
The third wave of the survey was conducted November 2020. Read more (registration required).
Gender disparity in U.S.
Women lost more jobs than men in 2020, according to an article published by CNN.com. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that women ended 2020 with 5.4 million fewer jobs than they had in February of the same year. Men lost 4.4 million jobs over the same time period.
Among women, white women currently have the lowest unemployment rate at 5.7%. Latinas report the highest unemployment rate at 9.1%, followed by Black women at 8.4%.
Money management during COVID-19
Sixty-four percent of Americans report stress about their financial situation, according to a study from Logica and KNow Research, though savings rates have been at an all-time high. Twenty-eight percent report they are able to cover monthly expenses with nothing left over, and 19% report they end up short. One in five don’t have enough savings to cover a month of expenses.
The study also looked at financial benefits Americans are looking for from employers. Thirty-two percent would like to receive emergency savings account/plan, 27% a retirement account/plan and 25% access to financial advice and education.
The survey is part of an ongoing study. Learn more.
Pandemic changes tech use
Forty-seven percent of Americans report the pandemic has changed their view and use of technology. The study released by Toluna found that more than half of respondents want to spend their money in health technology to maintain fitness, while 43% want to improve their home networks. Thirty-two percent plan to purchase a smart TV. Other smart-home devices include home security (43%), smart light bulbs (41%), connected appliances (35%) and connected home fitness (31%).
When it comes to work, 48% of respondents say their company isn’t up-to-speed with the latest in smart technology. Forty percent report that the top reason for this is that the company has chosen not to adopt latest smart tech developments. In addition, 18% report that “any new tech used is my own.”
The survey was conducted on January 4, 2021. Read more (registration required).