NOTEBOOK: ONE GOOD READ – Millions who left workforce may never return, study shows

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A new study suggests that millions of people who dropped out of the workforce during the coronavirus pandemic plan to stay out indefinitely, potentially extending the effects of the labor shortage for years. The research, published in this Wall Street Journal article, cites fears over persisting illness or physical impairment. According to the study, that number totals about 3 million people, made up primarily of women, those without a college degree and those who have worked in low-paying jobs. They also don’t plan to return to their pre-COVID activities after the pandemic ends. It’s part of a phenomenon called “long social distancing,” which the research team behind the study believes could be a lasting scar of the pandemic.