Though a recession is underway, these eight markets are seeing surging demand in the wake of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Financial institutions typically face elevated risk during recessionary times. As businesses and consumers alike face decreasing revenue and income, they look to lending institutions for support during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

SaaS providers are experiencing heightened demand from work-from-home employees during first-quarter 2020 because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, but this spike is not anticipated to last through the end of the year.

Despite the somewhat discretionary nature of management consulting, this market is fairing relatively well in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. 

Rental equipment suppliers are not well-equipped to weather the economic storm introduced by COVID-19 (coronavirus). Falling demand for goods and services, widespread initiatives to avoid nonessential person-to-person contact, poor performance among manufacturers and rising credit risk is causing demand for rental equipment to shrink.

Construction firms’ risk exposure is augmented during economic downturns; the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is heightening such risk as contractors are facing supply chain disruption in addition to hindered demand.

Shelter-in-place policies are transforming the work environment and how businesses operate during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Buyers must consider a variety of factors, such as supply shortages, supplier financial health and fluctuations in demand for essential equipment and services, that affect businesses transitioning their workplace to work from home (WFH), also known as telecommuting.

Personal protective equipment and sterilization equipment are two of the most commonly used tools deployed to limit the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). However, these products are currently limited in availability due to overwhelming demand.

Insurance companies have been thrust into the front lines of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic response. Suppliers in the market are experiencing high risk from financial pressure on reinsurance and investment companies and the potential for mass claims payouts.

Legal service providers have historically suffered during recessionary periods and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic are already affecting the industry. While traditional law firms are struggling with the transition to remote services, endemic online legal services suppliers are seeing a bump in demand.

Due to the necessity of tax, audit and accounting services, providers in the industry are expected to remain largely insulated from risk stemming from the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

IT-related companies are experiencing declining revenue from reduced investment in new future projects due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. However, demand is increasing from businesses seeking IT services to accommodate new online purchasing systems and work-from-home setups.

The impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic on business process outsourcing (BPO) services is uneven and is dependent on the buyer’s market, the services the buyer outsources, the sensitivity of information the supplier handles and the location of the supplier.

Print advertising expenditure is plummeting in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Poor expenditure poses a threat to the financial stability of many suppliers.

In light of the economic turmoil brought on by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, marketing and advertising firms are experiencing slower demand for services. Key buyers of these services have historically slashed marketing and advertising budgets amid economic uncertainty, a pattern that is presenting itself again during this pandemic.