If you've been reading CU Times for a while, you know that our People column – a smiling headshot-filled collection of new hires, promotions, retirements and honors that runs on the last editorial page in every print issue and online on Mondays – is a mainstay of the publication. When the world turned upside down in March, and we weren't yet sure how the economic crisis would impact credit unions, we were concerned that these career-related announcements might fizzle, and we actually brainstormed what in the world we could start filling that page with instead.

It has been a relief to see these announcements continue to roll into our inboxes, proving that despite being in the middle of a pandemic, credit unions are in a position to move their greatest assets – their people – on an upward career trajectory. Industry professionals don't have to abandon their dreams of advancement and settle into stagnancy, because credit unions appear to being doing well enough to develop employees and even hire new ones. We have yet to hear of a mass layoff event at a credit union (at least not one that has been announced publicly); in fact, just last week we learned that VyStar Credit Union ($9.5 billion, Jacksonville, Fla.) was looking to hire 50 new contact center employees. And in the most recent Trendwatch webinar presented by Callahan & Associates, steady employment numbers were revealed, with credit unions reporting 305,100 full-time employees and 22,400 part-time employees as of June 30, representing 1.9% growth over the previous 12 months.