Time to Pivot? New Year Can Lead to New Career Plans
You may not agree always with the lyrics to Sheryl Crow’s 1996 super hit, “A Change Will Do You Good,” but you can try to make the best of change that happens to your career—even ones you do not instigate. Many upheavals happened to millions of women’s jobs, responsibilities and career paths in 2025. And pivoting with purpose may indeed do you good.
In 2025, there were 1.17 million jobs eliminated, according to Times Now News, the worst loss since 2020. The largest losses were in government, at 300,000 jobs, another 140,000 in tech, 90,000in retail, 70,000 in services, 38,000 in telecommunications, 34,000 in food and 29,000 in nonprofits. Many of these sectors are traditionally employers of women, CBS News reports.
“Many upheavals happened to millions of women’s jobs, responsibilities and career paths in #2025. #Pivoting with purpose for #2026 may do you good. #womenjobs #leadership ”
Black women have been the deepest impacted of all employed women, with 300.000 losing their jobs, according to CBS News. With an unemployment rate in September of this year at 7.5 percent, and white women at 3.4 percent, according to AP News, a main factor is the eradication of DEI programs, efforts and institutions.
Read more in Take The Lead on pivoting in your career
“We have to react nimbly and pivot, not only to be innovative, but sometimes just to survive. When the tectonic plates are shifting and make the world feel unsteady under our feet, every one of us has had to do that kind of uprooting at some point in our lives, ” says Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead in a recent podcast, “How To Pivot With Power.”
For so many, that time is now. And pivoting to a new path in 2026 is on many calendars.
“We have to react nimbly and pivot, not only to be innovative, but sometimes just to survive,” says Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take the Lead. @takeleadwomen #pivot #career #202.”
Read more in Take The Lead on positive mindset in career moves
Unemployment is not only affecting women at different rates, but also different lengths of time. According to research from the Center for American Progress, white women spent 8.9. weeks unemployed, and Black women spent 18.5 weeks unemployed.
The data is clear that it is not economically feasible to wait and see if the landscape improves. Many are contemplating a new career path—even if it is not crystal clear right now.
According to People Management, new research from Grant Thornton shows, “62% of women who have worked in a professional role for 10-25 years are considering embarking on a new career path. And 26% say they would like to do so in the next five years. More than half, or 56% did not have a specific field in mind – they just wanted to do something different.”
“New @GrantThornton study: 62% of women who have worked in a professional role for 10-25 years are considering a new career path. 26% would like to do so in the next 5 years. #careershift #pivot #women #leadership.”
This same study shows that “69% said their employer offered access to learning opportunities, but only 31% said their employer offered options to retrain or explore different career paths within their organization.”
Read more in Take The Lead on pivoting to tech
According to Jenn Barnett, head of equity, inclusion and diversity at Grant Thornton, “Our research shows that the top barriers preventing women from exploring new directions in their career is mainly internal anxiety and perception; for example, feeling too old for a change career, worrying about loss of income and losing the flexibility to allow for personal responsibilities.”
What is needed is for individuals to invest in themselves and seek resources, programs, trainings and opportunities to learn new skills, innovative approaches and consider mentorship and networking that can inform your pivot.
“Women need to invest in themselves and seek resources, programs, trainings and opportunities to learn new skills, innovative approaches to inform their pivot. @takeleadwomen #9LeadershipPowerTools #leadership #strategies ”
Take The Lead’s new 9 Leadership Power Tools Course launching in February is designed for this time. According to Take The Lead, “But how much better is it not just to react, but to create your future. The truth is: navigating this new reality takes more than experience. It takes redefining power. It takes mental resilience. It takes a new kind of leadership.”
Read more in Take The Lead on pivoting to success
“Take courses, attend workshops, or earn certifications that enhance credibility in your new career path. Stay current with industry trends by reading, listening to podcasts, and engaging in relevant discussions. Consider shadowing professionals or volunteering in roles that provide hands-on experience. Pay attention to what sparks your curiosity and fuels passion in your soul, leaving you excited or energized,” reports Workers Compensation,
“Career pivots can be one of a woman's most empowering moves. Careful planning and self-belief can lead to opportunities that better align with personal and professional aspirations. When women go where they are celebrated rather than tolerated, amazing things can happen,” reports Workers Compensation.
“ When women go where they are celebrated rather than tolerated, amazing things can happen,” reports @WorkersCompensation. #2026 #careerpivot #womensleadership”
Read more in Take The Lead on flexible work paths
As the year ends and a new year begins, reaching out to colleagues in different industries to brainstorm and gather information is a great idea. Take inventory of the skills and experience you do have and what you need to learn to shift your path.
Approach this time not labelled as what you are ending, but what you are enhancing from your experience for this new direction you are starting. Of course, your previous experience matters, but how can you build upon it?
Read more in Take The Lead on career pivots
During this process, you may feel it is time to take some risks. In the 2024 Power Up Conference, iconic actor, advocate, philanthropist, instructor and author Kathleen Turner said she has continued to pivot throughout her successful career. “Risk is everything. I don’t take a job I know I can do. For me, every job is a risk to the point of failure.”
Extreme risks may not be for everyone, but what is a smart first step is to investigate where there is job growth with more openings, and fewer layoffs. And one that interests you authentically.
Blue Chip Forecasts report a prediction of “job postings levels ranging from 6.8 million to 7.4 million at the end of next year, according to Indeed’s Hiring Lab. There is job growth in civil engineering, personal care and home health. Healthcare represented 47.5% of job growth in 2025.
“New data @BlueChipForecasts shows “job postings levels ranging from 6.8 million to 7.4 million at the end of #2026, @Indeed Hiring Lab. #employment #future ”
Other areas of growth include banking and finance, Hiring Lab reports, as well as marketing, production and manufacturing and therapy.
On the other hand, in a recent podcast, MSN reports, , “Olivier Godement, the head of product for business products at the ChatGPT maker, shared why he thinks a trio of jobs — in life sciences, customer service, and computer engineering — is on the cusp of automation.” These are industries where jobs will be eliminated.
Read more in Take The Lead on pivoting to manufacturing
Change arrives from many arenas outside of our choices, But create the change you need and want, that honors your authentic self. It hopefully will do you good.
