December is almost here…and I’m pretty sure that most of us will be elated when 2009 is finally over! From this Working Girl’s perspective, this year has been truly craptacular when it comes to jobs, finances and everything related to business. Without a doubt, the world of work as we once knew it has changed. That fact hit us hard and fast – and people are still trying to recover. However, most are predicting a light at the end of the tunnel and with that comes some good news for us working folk:

Healthcare reform can change the world of work. Whether you’re for it or against it, healthcare is going to make a huge difference on employment. From a purely objective viewpoint, it is true that the cost of healthcare is a major burden to employers. If that burden were to go away more people could be put to work, and a variety of people (old, young, men, women, big, small, pregnant, etc.) would be able to find jobs.

More importantl, healthcare would no longer be a driving force in a job seeker’s employment decisions. You don’t know how many applicants I’ve spoken to who take a job because it offers healthcare benefits, not because the work itself is challenging. These are often the same people who job-hop, looking for the next best thing. Wouldn’t it be great for everyone if people applied for positions because of their genuine interest in the organization and the opportunities it provides?

Contract work will prevail. After recessions in years past, companies have first hired contract workers before hiring regular, full-time employees. It’s been predicted that contract work will be the way that many companies get work done…and they may never hire the contract employee. Many organizations are tired of dealing with waves of massive layoffs and would prefer to bring a contractor in for one or two years and let the contract run its course. Since most say the average job seeker won’t stay in a position for more than two years anyway, and if benefits aren’t be an issue, it is a win-win situation for most.

Some jobs are just not coming back. There’s not much to say about this other than the sad fact that most in this situation are either unaware or in denial of the fact that their jobs are obsolete. The government is offering significant grants for continuing education and training in new fields. Take advantage of it if you can!

The downturn affected all generations. It doesn’t matter if you just finished school or were preparing to retire, the recession has changed or will change your future. Gen Y’s ability to find work has not only been affected, but their earning potential in years to come is down significantly… and they’re not prepared for this kind of news. The Baby Boomers who were anxiously anticipating retirement are now pushing back their plans by five or ten years. Parents and kids are now finding themselves living together again under the same roof due to economic circumstances.

The upside to this is that people are becoming more resourceful and understanding the difference between “want” and “need”. Example: “Do I really need 400 channels?” or “Couldn’t I make that same dinner at home for half the price?” or “Instead of giving gifts this Christmas, let’s donate money to a charity”. In times of need we remind ourselves of what’s really important in life.

As I write my final post for the Girl’s Guide (sad, but true) I hope that I’ve left readers with some positive things to look forward to in the coming year. Certainly I’m not offering promises, but educated guesses with some wishful thinking sprinkled in there!

Has this year been terrible? Yes! Is it going to get better? I hope so. We’ve made it through this mess so far… and if it doesn’t get better, we’ll all be rioting in the streets! So as you begin to make your holiday plans and New Year’s resolutions for 2010, keep in mind that we’re all in this together – for better or worse.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Abby is the Business and Employment Editor for Girls Guide. She is an HR/Recruiting Specialist for a local, woman-owned staffing agency in Clayton by day, and an active volunteer all over St. Louis by night. You can email her at abigail184 [at] gmail [dot]com, and follow her on Twitter.