A Shortage of Workers in the US? Not So Fast

On the surface, the surprise announcement Thursday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it would reverse mask mandates and limits on gathering sizes for people vaccinated against COVID-19 looks like great news both for Americans looking for work and for those employed and looking for a pay increase.

News stories across the country have been full of business owners and executives bemoaning their inability to fill open positions in recent weeks. Restaurants and travel and entertainment companies, in particular, were preparing for a ramp up in business by scrambling to bring in more staff, and the news from the CDC, some said, just gave further impetus to a welcome trend. Disney CEO: CDC change is ‘big catalyst’