Stories from workers who left the labor force : The Indicator from Planet Money Millions of people opted out of the labor force during the pandemic, and the Federal Reserve's most recent update on the economy explains why. Today, we hear from people who made that decision to leave the workforce.

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We found the 'missing workers'

We found the 'missing workers'

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MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
(Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

The latest jobs numbers came in strong. Unemployment is still at historic lows and there are more job openings than workers to fill those positions. So, we ask again, where are all the workers?

Today, we listen to the stories of people who left the labor force over the last few years to hear why they opted out—and whether they're coming back.

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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.