The latest figures show that close to 16 million employees have now lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis and layoffs are continuously spreading all over America.
The pandemic has brought the US economy to a halt, as millions of Americans file for unemployment benefits.
The mass layoff began with leisure and restaurant businesses and has now spread to the manufacturing, healthcare, and construction industries.
The fast pace of job losses has placed more people unemployed in three weeks compared to two years of the last economic recession.
Experts predict unemployment to rise to 15% and up, levels which have not been hit since the second world war.
The good news is there are ways to make money while you are at home.
Online employment is a good alternative, you just need to avoid scams because there are fraudulent companies out there.
Some red flags to be aware of:
- Companies asking for sensitive information upfront
- Giving vague answers to specific questions
- High turnover rate
Here are ways to earn from home during this lockdown period:
Transcriber
Did you know that you can earn $2,200 monthly by doing transcription? At TranscribeMe, you can make $22 per audio hour for transcribing files.
For medical transcriptions, you can charge $30 per hour for your services.
Online Tutor
If you have the skills to tutor online, you can earn from $10 to $14 per hour. Teach math, science, language, or English.
A virtual tutor has a flexible schedule, which means you can work while your child is taking a nap.
Check out Tutor.com for more details.
Virtual Assistant
Many companies now outsource executive-level PAs to cut down on costs. Hiring remotely is a cost-effective way to get your admin projects done, which include event planning, travel arrangements, correspondence, and other support services.
VAs are paid from $25 to $75 per hour. You just need a printer, fast internet, and updated computer to start working.
Work from home moms can benefit from these positions as work hours are flexible.
Online Guide/Expert
If you have an area of expertise and can communicate well, you can land a gig becoming an online expert guide.
At JustAnswer.com, users pay for the answers to their questions from trusted sources. You can answer questions based on your expertise, whether you are a lawyer, doctor, vet, online marketer, and web designer.
As an online expert, you get paid a percentage of the price per answer and for the number of answers you can provide.
Writer
If you have experience in being a wordsmith, now is the time to get paid for your talent.
Good writing is in demand, especially if you can write online content. There are freelance websites that have job listings for a copy editor, writer, or proofreader.
Rates average from $26 to $32 per hour.
Check out Upwork and MediaBistro for the latest opportunities.
Survey Taker
If you love answering surveys, you can get paid in cash, gift cards, or other prizes. For two hours a week, you can get $100 worth of goodies.
The more time you spend on answering surveys, the more money you can make out of it.
You can check out InboxDollars, ePoll.com, and SurveySavvy.com
Online Juror
Did you know that there are companies who pay for you to sit as mock juries? These are like focused groups aimed at helping attorneys and jury consultants feedback on cases they are currently handling.
These are real cases, and your verdict can predict how the trial may end up. Fees range from $5 to $60. You can check out eJury.com or OnlineVerdict.com for more details.
Babysitter
If you love to take care of children, then earn money by signing up for SitterCity or Care.com. These sites are reliable companies that verify both babysitters and those looking for sitters. Background checks are done so you don’t have to worry about being scammed.
Rates are based on experience, the number of hours, and the number of children. The average hourly rate for a babysitter is $28.
Telemarketer
If you are a skillful communicator with customer service experience, you can apply to companies that outsource their customer service.
Companies hire customer service reps to do their cold-calling campaigns.
Telemarketers are paid an hourly rate and may earn incentives and commission based on performance.
Legit companies include Indeed and Intrep.com. Trusted companies will not require you to pay a fee to get leads.
Music Reviewer
For those who have an ear for music, you can get paid for listening to music. Slicethepie is one of the largest paid review sites online that pays you to listen to music and write reviews.
The rate of payment is based on the quality of your review, the more detailed your review you get paid better.
The minimum payment is at least $10, and your money will be sent via Paypal.
