December 22, 2022 – We’re almost three years removed from the massive shutdowns and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a lot of ways, those first few months of 2020 have shaped the way we have looked at 2021 and 2022.
For businesses and industries, 2021 was a year of recovery and rebuilding. A vaccine was introduced to the general public in early 2021, which gave us an edge against the pandemic while dividing the country over the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. Mandates for the vaccine created further division, while variants popped up that challenged the vaccine’s effectiveness.
2022 has been a year of reconnection for people and businesses across the world. Travel has largely resumed with very few, if any, travel mandates in place throughout the world. Many of the surviving businesses have rebuilt and functionally grown in the last year, as in-person meetings and networking events have resumed operations. While vaccinations and natural immunity has rendered COVID-19 less deadly, it hasn’t entirely eradicated the virus.
There have been plenty of challenges this year as well. Disruptions are still clogging up the supply chain, straining an already incredibly fragile system. Core inflation rates hit 8.2% for the United States this year, the highest in 40 years. Healthcare is constantly challenged by staffing shortages, burnout, supply chain disruptions, and inflation. Making things more complicated for the entire world, Russia invaded Ukraine in February of this year, putting a strain on political relations and forcing businesses with operations in Russia to make some difficult decisions regarding those relationships and facilities.
To fully understand the scope of the challenges and successes of 2022, we need to take a look at some of the biggest events throughout the year.
Read more in the latest issue of Repertoire Magazine.