The CDC recently released research stating that long Covid is keeping at least 18% of the labor force from working. You can view the presentation below or read an article summary here:
We don’t know anyone personally here at Econonaut that is knowingly suffering from long Covid but we do know people that have cancers, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus and other ailments within our community (co-workers, family, friends, etc).
If long covid is keeping 18% of the workers out of the labor force then other diseases and ailments must be keeping an equal or greater number of people out or, at the very least, reducing productivity and the problem will only get worse as the population continues to age.
To give an idea of the increasing prevalence of diseases hitting people here is a sample of celebrity illnesses.
Bruce Willis: Age 68 – Aphasia
Celine Dion: Age 55 – Stiff person syndrome
Michael J. Fox: Age 62 – Parkinson
George Clooney: Age 62 – Chronic pain
Montel Williams: Age 66 – Multiple Sclerosis
Bret Michael: Age 60 – Type 1 Diabetes
Frankie Muniz: Age 37 – Mini strokes
Bono: Age 63 – Glaucoma
Selena Gomez: Age 30 – Lupus
https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/g23453919/celebrities-chronic-illnesses/
Young or older, illnesses can strike anyone at anytime but aging and behaviors are likely a leading factor so what does this foretell for the American labor force? With 10,000 boomers retiring each day, thousands others becoming disabled or suffering from long covid or other illnesses we think this won’t bode well for the American economy.
In the worst case scenario, this will lead to lower productivity and much higher inflation but there will be opportunities for profit so stay tuned, stay profitable and stay solvent…