The ten years prior to 2020 produced the longest period of sustained economic growth in the United States since World War II. But the devastating loss of life and economic crash caused by Covid-19 will go in history as a generational disaster.
The year 2020 will be remembered as a turning point in history. The coronavirus changed the world almost overnight as we were forced to adjust to a new way of life. Yet the pandemic also served as a powerful engine to stimulate innovation. Advanced technology accelerated years ahead in only a few months.
Today, virtually every industry in the United States is facing a fresh array of daunting challenges, which will forever change what used to be “business as usual.”
- Reduced customer cashflow
- Tighter lending requirements
- Strained government budgets
- Workplace restrictions and morale
- Unstable supply chains
- Critical workforce shortages
The U.S. economy has improved since it crashed in spring 2020, but unprecedented lockdowns and fiscal safety nets have masked the damage caused by Covid-19. Even if the nation’s economy miraculously rebounds in 2021 and 2022, the pandemic will have forever changed the way Americans live and work.
Notwithstanding Congress’ passage of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus-aid package and the early encouraging results from the three approved vaccines, this is still the most uncertain time in decades to make forecasts about the U.S. economy. It is not surprising that Colorado construction businesses and the law firms that represent them are moving forward cautiously with a mixed sense of hope and concern as their industries enter the beginning of a “new normal.”
A fresh start in 2021 may provide a lasting boost to the U.S. economy and lift the mood of the nation. Access to and confidence in the vaccines are on the upswing. Plans are underway for schools and businesses to reopen over the coming months, so their students and employees will be able to return to hybrid classrooms and workplaces that follow new CDC guidelines and proper protocols. There are good reasons for renewed optimism that Colorado’s robust construction industry and Denver’s vibrant downtown and business community will regain their pre-pandemic resilience and momentum.
Business and career opportunities, we may recall, are often born during economically challenging times when unforeseen threats prompt dramatic choices. We all have jobs to do and roles to play in the long and difficult public health and economic recovery that lies ahead.
Let’s double down on working together to find equitable, diverse, and inclusive solutions for all of these challenges.