A bartender works in Lancaster. (Kate Landis/WITF)
The pandemic caused a seismic shift in how people think about work and made many jobs much less attractive.
Some workers left their jobs because of health or child care needs; others in search of more money, more flexibility, and more happiness.
That’s led to an extremely competitive labor market, with employers across the country struggling to hire new workers.
The situation has been especially difficult for lower-paying public sector positions. Finding enough bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and garbage collectors was hard before the pandemic; now, it’s reached a crisis point.
How has all this affected you and your family? Are you struggling to get your kid to school on time? Still waiting for your trash to be picked up? Did you call 911 in a moment of crisis and get put on hold?
Help us better understand the ways the pandemic has hampered the government services that you count on and let us know.
We read every submission.