Data from workers about the "post pandemic" labor shortage in the USA

April 18, 2021 6:41 AM

Can you point to interviews/studies/or data that has contacted actual workers to find out the reasons why they are applying for jobs in certain industries. Am specifically looking for information about the USA, but if other countries are relevant that would be fine.

I'm seeing a lot of blame from USA employers that workers are lazy and/or the government stimulus money is discouraging workers from working. This doesn't sound right to me, considering the low amounts of unemployment benefits in the USA.

But I honestly don't know and every article I read has an employer complaining about lazy workers, yet no interviews with people who are actually avoiding those jobs and why. So I'd love to see some actual data or interviews with the people not returning work and/or certain jobs and their reasons for doing so. Thanks in advance.

posted by Brandon Blatcher to Work & Money (2 answers total)

Best answer: I read this article on Slate that discussed other reasons, like childcare and vaccine access, as reasons why people would rather not work right now. It also sounds like no-one really knows yet, so the usual suspects blame the government.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:02 AM on April 18, 2021 [2 favorites]

anecdotal, but the few friends i have who got laid off because of covid are not currently searching for work, because the jobs currently available would not even pay them enough to cover the cost of childcare.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 8:30 AM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]