Coping with unemployment in COVID-19: The role of employability beliefs in exploration self-efficacy

Abstract

The new coronavirus global pandemic has caused accelerated and emerging changes in the labor market, including increased unemployment. We examined the associations between employability beliefs and career exploration self-efficacy of 1585 unemployed adult workers, in Portugal, who lost their job after COVID-19. Participants completed measures of employability beliefs consistent with striving, proactivity, flexibility, acceptance of challenges, optimism and autonomy dispositions, and of career exploration self-efficacy. Using multiple linear regression analyses, we found that employability dispositional beliefs established significant positive associations with career exploration self-efficacy, especially autonomy, striving and optimism. Implications of these findings for future research and practice are considered.

Integrative review on career interventions with unemployed people: Nature, outcomes, and recommendations

“…However, the analysis of the remaining articles adds some additional elements. This includes the emphasis on additional career resources, such as employability (Panari & Tonelli, 2022; Sabatés, 2013; Whelan et al., 2018), psychological capital (Taveira et al., 2023; Whelan et al., 2018), social‐emotional skills (Nieto‐Flores et al., 2019; Padilla‐Carmona et al., 2016), autonomy and commitment (Taveira et al., 2023), calling (Rosa et al., 2020), and emotional intelligence (Nieto‐Flores et al., 2019). These factors are crucial for promoting well‐being and overall life satisfaction, as well as providing additional support to face the challenges of job searching.…”

“…Perspective Through the Intervention . Supporting the development of personal and career resources involves establishing an optimistic and hopeful future vision (Panari & Tonelli, 2022; Parola & Marcionetti, 2022; Taveira et al., 2023). Some tips include helping clients perceive unplanned events as necessary and normal (Krumboltz et al., 2013), and emphasizing that unemployment is a temporary rather than permanent condition (Drosos et al., 2021).…”

“…It is also advisable for the activities to have an educational component (Kenny & Rossiter, 2017). For example, macro‐level analyses of working conditions associated with unemployment and precariousness can be performed (Murphey & Shillingford, 2012; Panari & Tonelli, 2022; Santilli et al., 2021), as well as analyses of meaningful work (Onça & Bido, 2019; Whelan et al., 2018), and/or teaching the principles of self‐determined and adaptive approach to career life (Taveira et al., 2023). Furthermore, it is essential for career interventions with unemployed individuals to include active explorative activities, such as job searching and searching for training opportunities (Blustein & Guarino, 2020; Fraga, 2013; Nieto‐Flores et al., 2019; Panari & Tonelli, 2022; Padilla‐Carmona et al., 2016; Parola & Marcionetti, 2022; Rezaei et al., 2017; Rosa et al., 2020; Santos et al., 2010; Whelan et al., 2018).…”

“…It is important to make unemployed clients feel visible and valued (Bhat, 2010) and emphasize genuine listening and understanding of the individual (Drosos et al., 2021). Maintaining a positive, realistic, and encouraging attitude is crucial for creating a supportive and motivating environment during counseling (Drosos et al., 2021; Taveira et al., 2023). This also requires counsellors to be action‐oriented (Krumboltz et al., 2013).…”

The psychological future of unemployed individuals and workers: invariance measurement model and mean differences

“…The economic recession has affected many sectors of society, with a large escalation in unemployment rates (Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional [IEFP], 2021). Unemployment is associated with economic, social, and psychological vulnerability (Drosos et al, 2021 ), impacting how individuals deal with their future (Bonanomi & Rosina, 2022 ; Taveira et al, 2023 ). Moreover, future-oriented people tend to perceive themselves as more employable (Chen et al, 2022 ) and have less risk of being not in employment, education, or training (Cheng & Nguyen, 2022 ).…”