Graphic detail | Labour markets

Where have all America’s workers gone?

The supply of workers is at pre-pandemic levels, but demand is far greater

For months economists have warned of recession in America, but in one crucial area the economy seems overheated: employers are still struggling to find workers. Why is the labour market so tight?

This article appeared in the Graphic detail section of the print edition under the headline “Where have all the workers gone?”

Sources: BLS; “Where are the workers? From great resignation to quiet quitting”, by D. Lee, J Park and Y.Shin, National Bureau of Economic Research, 2023, working paper

From the January 28th 2023 edition

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