In 2021, our recovering economy experienced two historic, yet contradictory trends. First, the demand for workers returned in spectacular fashion, skyrocketing at unprecedented rates. Second and conversely, millions of potential workers have remained unemployed on the sidelines. The tension between the two economic patterns has given rise to a unique job market in which record unemployment figures were driven not by a lack of jobs, but by a lack of willing workers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, as of December 2021, 6.3 million Americans were unemployed.1

The American workforce is also experiencing sweeping demographic changes. Millennials and Gen Zs entering the hiring pool bring new ideologies, viewpoints and approaches to their work. Simply put, newer workers increasingly seek work they care about – work with purpose – and are less tolerant of mistreatment and unethical practices. The pandemic hit those with childcare responsibilities particularly hard, driving many to leave the workforce entirely. In 2021 alone, the workforce lost 1.6 million mothers of children under 18.2 The number of working fathers declined by an additional 1.3 million.3