At the beginning of 2020, 23-year-old Danny Braddy had his dream job. He worked for a Michelin-star chef and was well on his way to becoming one. But after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, his path was completely derailed.
His story is one of thousands.
The pandemic led to a historic drop in job opportunities, disrupting workers of all ages. Now, as the world continues its journey out of the pandemic, the U.S. has seen an unprecedented rebound in job availability.
This national trend holds true in North Carolina. Between February and April 2020, employment dropped 12%, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce. But by November 2022, the state had 218,000 more jobs than it did pre-pandemic.
As the economy’s wheels keep turning, businesses are struggling to find enough employees to meet their labor demands. While many young adults like Danny have returned to work, employment participation rates remain below pre-2020 levels. Labor shortages have led to increased service errors, employee burnout, and reduced profit and production.
Such economic issues have been the focus of UNC School of Government professor Anita Brown-Graham, who directs a statewide effort using research and data to inform policy called ncIMPACT. In 2021, Brown-Graham found a strong collaborator across campus at the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise: NCGrowth. This national center provides technical assistance to businesses, governments, and other organizations to create jobs and new wealth in...
Foley partner Lisa Noller, Chair of the Firm’s Litigation Department, will be speaking at the American Bar Association’s Qui Tam & Civil False Claims and Healthcare Fraud Institute in Washingt...