Long Covid is distorting the labor market

[June Zaccone]

Long Covid is distorting the labor market — and that’s bad for the U.S. economy  Dec 8 2022 Greg Iacurci@GregIacurci

Key Points

• Long Covid is affecting how Americans work. Some are unable to work at all due to symptoms of the chronic illness.
• The overall labor impact of long Covid is tough to quantify. Estimates suggest hundreds of thousands to millions may be out of work, at a time when there are historic levels of job openings.
• It is likely underpinning dynamics contributing to inflation. Meanwhile, lost earnings might translate to reduced household spending, or mean that patients must lean on public assistance programs funded by taxpayer dollars.....
  
  The midpoint of her estimate — 3 million workers — accounts for 1.8% of the entire U.S. civilian labor force. The figure may “sound unbelievably high” but is consistent with the impact in other major economies like the United Kingdom, Bach wrote in an August report. The figures are also likely conservative, since they exclude workers over age 65, she said.
  
  “Mild symptoms, employer accommodations or significant financial need can all keep people with long Covid employed,” Bach said. “But in many cases, long Covid impacts work."....

June Zaccone
National Jobs for All Network
http://www.njfac.org