Lamar Cornett has worked in restaurants for more than 20 years. During the pandemic, he began thinking about leaving that career behind. Courtesy of Lamar Cornett hide caption
Help Wanted: Where Are The Workers? People's relationship to work has shifted in a dramatic fashion during the pandemic, leading to major disruptions and upheaval in the American workplace right now.
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Help Wanted: Where Are The Workers?
Jonathan Caballero is among the millions of workers who are rethinking how they want to live their lives after the pandemic. He has found a new job that won't require a long commute. Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption
A "Help Wanted" sign is displayed at a gas station in Los Angeles. After surviving the pandemic, small businesses across the country are struggling to find workers Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption
In need of workers, a Domino's franchise in Washington, D.C., is offering a sign-on bonus for all positions. Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption
A $500 Sign-On Bonus To Deliver Pizzas? Here's What To Know About Hiring Incentives
Dean Burrows runs Gear Motions, which makes precision gears for machines. He has had to turn down some orders because he can't find enough workers. Gear Motions/Dean Burrows hide caption
Finding Workers Is Harder Than Ever. The Economic Impact Could Be Significant
Norma Jasso, 62, sped up retirement plans after her daughter asked for help with a new baby. She stands with a highchair her father had commissioned from a shop in Sinaloa, Mexico. Her daughters used it and now her grandson will too. Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption
These Older Workers Hadn't Planned To Retire So Soon. The Pandemic Sped Things Up
A server delivers food to customers dining at a restaurant in Los Angeles on Aug. 7. Restaurants are boosting pay to attract workers, and that could have an impact on already-high inflation. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Wages Are Going Up — And So Is Inflation. Consumer Prices Have Hit A 13-Year High
Marianne LeBlanc stages in-person corporate events. But those jobs disappeared during the pandemic and have been slow to return. Kelly Creative hide caption
Millions Lose Jobless Benefits Today. It Doesn't Mean They'll Be Rushing Back To Work
UPS introduces an expedited hiring process. Get a job offer in 30 minutes
People walk by a hiring sign in a store window in New York on Nov. 17. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption
How understaffed are stores? Smaller retailers feel the holiday-shopping strain
At any moment of this past decade, U.S. retail jobs have supported about 15 million workers. Inti St Clair/Getty Images/Tetra images RF hide caption
Retail Jobs Are Treated As A Temporary Bridge To Something Better. But Why?
Large dump truck in a Utah copper mine. RiverRockPhotos/Getty Images hide caption
A driver exits the yard after filling up his gas tanker truck at Marathon Oil on May 20 in Salt Lake City. George Frey/Getty Images hide caption
Latoya Beatty, owner of Little Pandas Learn-N-Play in Martinsburg, W.Va., has had trouble hiring day care teachers. She recently raised her starting wage from $10 an hour to $12. Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption