Issue 8.23
June 10, 2022
END-OF-SESSION
"OFF TO THE RACES"

As Speaker of the House Peter Schwartzkopf stated this week at our End-of-Session Policy Conference: "It's June so we are off to the races." The Conference featured remarks from both House and Senate leadership in addition to industry experts on various bills, policies and regulations before the General Assembly as they enter their last weeks in session. Read more >
The Delaware Workforce Development Board is conducting a comprehensive survey to identify workforce and training needs based on employer demand. The data uncovered will enable the board to identify emerging occupations/openings, uncover skills gaps and strategically invest in workforce training programs statewide. Please help by completing this survey >
A National Crisis by the Numbers
THE U.S. HAS LOST MILLIONS OF WORKERS
Right now, there are too many jobs without people to fill them. As a result, businesses can’t grow, compete, and thrive. The U.S. Chamber and Chamber Foundation's America Works initiative is mobilizing business and government to swiftly address the crisis.

Here is a recap the trends on job openings, labor force participation, quit rates, and more, for a quick understanding of the state of the workforce. Take a look behind the numbers at what is causing the worker shortage and learn which states and industries have been impacted the most. Learn more >
62.3%
labor force participation rate
2.8M
people left the workforce since Feb. 2020
If every unemployed worker took an open job in their industry, there would still be open jobs. Where did the workers go? Boosted unemployment benefits, stimulus payments, and child tax credits have padded the finances of some previously employed workers, and they no longer need to work. Plus, early retirements and less immigration has left the nation in a worker deficit. Learn the industries impacted the most >
WE HAVE A LOT OF JOBS
BUT WHERE ARE THE WORKERS?
11.4M
open jobs in the U.S.
6M
unemployed workers in the U.S.
If every unemployed person in the country found a job, we would still have nearly 5.4 million open jobs.

How did this happen? At the height of the pandemic, more than 120,000 businesses temporarily closed, and more than 30 million U.S. workers were unemployed. Since then, job openings have continued to climb, while unemployment has slowly declined. Understanding America's labor shortage >
EVERY STATE IS FEELING THE IMPACT
OF THE WORKER SHORTAGE
65
workers for every 100 open jobs
in the U.S.
66
workers for every 100 open jobs
in Delaware
THE GREAT RESIGNATION IS MORE LIKE
'THE GREAT RESHUFFLE'

The Great Resignation has pulsed through media headlines. However, ‘The Great Reshuffle’ is a more accurate explanation of the changes taking place in the workforce. The rate at which employees have quit their jobs has grown over the past year. But at the same time, despite a summer plateau, hiring has outpaced quits since November 2020. Learn the reasons behind the worker shortage >​
2.9%
national quit rate
4.4%
national hiring rate
15%
Job openings have increased by 15% or more in every state since Feb. 2020
47.8%
Job openings have increased by 47.83%
in Delaware since Feb. 2020.
A LACK OF ACCESS TO CHILD CARE IS EXACERBATING THE WORKER SHORTAGE

One million women are missing from the labor force compared to pre-pandemic.
Both men and women suffered a 3% drop in labor force participation at the height of the pandemic. But more than two years later, men have returned to work at a higher rate than women. Today, women’s labor force participation is still a full percentage point lower than it was pre-pandemic, meaning an estimated one million women are missing from the labor force. Learn more >
President's Message
During discussions about raising the state minimum wage to $15, we offered that many unintended consequences might be realized. We worried that youth unemployment might lag because why would you hire a teen when you could have an adult with work experience. We shared that policy choices like this only serves to accelerate automation and eliminate jobs for the very people everyone, including us, are trying to help (proliferation of “self-check-out” technology). There are several other issues we raised, but a new issue has emerged I’m not sure anyone saw coming—the benefits cliff. Read more >
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