Substance abuse contributing to the worker shortage

[applegrove]

Substance abuse contributing to the worker shortage

Emily Peck, author of Axios Markets

https://www.axios.com/substance-abuse-worker-shortage-covid-3884069d-91a5-4a8b-89cd-09a09b62d3e2.html

"SNIP.....

The labor force participation rate — the share of the adult population either working or looking for work — has not quite recovered from pre-pandemic levels. A new paper sheds light on one factor behind the shortfall: substance abuse.

Why it matters: There's an acute labor shortage in the U.S., and this is one reason — alongside reduced immigration, child care issues and ongoing concerns about COVID-19.

Driving the news: Between 9% and 26% of the decline in workforce participation between February 2020 and January 2022, among people aged 25 to 34, is probably due to a rise in dependency on substances like opioids and methamphetamines. That's according to findings in a paper released this week by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

* In recent months, labor force participation increased — it's now a half-percentage point lower than pre-pandemic. And 18% to 52% of that remaining shortfall could be from those struggling with substance abuse, says Karen Kopecky, an economist at the Atlanta Fed and co-author of the paper.

......SNIP"

[cbabe]

1. Plus a million and more dead.

[uppityperson]

2. Not to mention poor wages, working conditions and appreciation

[gratuitous]

3. That was my thought

Start paying people more, make your workplace a comfortable place to be, and tell the workers you appreciate their effort, and see if you don't build a more loyal, more efficient staff.

[applegrove]

5. They hire asshole detailed oriented managers who keep workers

back on their heels so they don't get too confident and start agitating for a union. Upper level workers, hard to replace and few, are treated great. Because of covid, workers will get back some power. But it would have happened anyhow because the baby boomers are retiring.

[Leith]

4. This is part of it

A large part.

Another problem is that companies advertise positions. They hold job fairs and may even have a few interviews.

Then applicants never hear back. A look at Indeed or the company website shows the same position still open months or years later.

They also flat out refuse to accept applicants over the age of 50.

Then employers whine that nobody wants to work.