There seems to be a lot of confusion about why there are so many fewer workers now than in '19.
Let me explain.
- A new sickness emerged.
- We ignored it for a while.
- We took it seriously for approximately 2 seconds.
- We let it rip.
- Lots of people died and are still dying.
- Lots more people became or are becoming disabled to mild or severe degrees, with no prognosis of recovery.
- We aren't sure what else will happen to the infected.
That's what happened and is still happening.
@djwfyi Post hoc ergo propter hoc?
In the USA men were dropping out of the workforce for a variety of reasons before 2019, and the process is likely ongoing. Below is a random pick of articles from 2016. Not hard to find.
My hunch: "permission slip culture" and the cost of professional education is discouraging. Recertification because you want to apply for a job just over the state border? From an European perspective that looks archaic.
https://www.npr.org/2016/09/06/492849471/an-economic-mystery-why-are-men-leaving-the-workforce
Daryl the Admin
Thomas