![]() There are around 3.3 million less people working today than in the month before the Covid-19 outbreak in early 2020, according to a new study undertaken by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. But why are so many still sitting on the sidelines when employers, particularly in construction, are looking for help? According to the Chamber study, some 28% of unemployed workers said they have been ill, and the condition of their health has taken precedence over looking for work. At the same time, 27% of respondents said the “need to be home and care for children or other family members,” has made it impossible to return to work. Additional factors have seen concerns about contracting Covid 19 in the workplace, along with others who say the pay for the jobs they are interested in is too low. According to the Chamber’s America Works Data Center, respondents also indicated that they were earning more collecting unemployment benefits than they did while working. The country’s workforce has also been gutted by the more than 3 million Baby Boomers opting for early retirements during the pandemic. The number of people who voluntarily decided to quit their jobs also saw an increase in the last two years, climbing from around 3.1 million in late 2020 to an all-time high of 4.5 million by early 2022. That figure, while still high, has since decreased to around 4.1 million. Altogether, there are 73 workers for every 100 open jobs in the U.S. Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico have seen 81, 65, and 68 workers respectively for every 100 open jobs. While both Arizona and New Mexico, as well as most other states, have today a smaller labor participation force compared with where things stood before the pandemic, Colorado is one of only five states to have experienced a higher labor participation rate. By Garry Boulard
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