Labor Shortages to Have Uneven Effect Across U.S.

As Demographic Transformation Continues, Qualified Workers Fast Becoming
Scarce in Many States, Led by Northeast and Midwest

Companies in high-risk U.S regions need to start planning now for deep and long-lasting labor shortages, according to a new Executive Action report published today by The Conference Board. The US Labor Supply Problem: Which States are Most at Risk? is the latest piece in a major research series tracing the global impact of aging populations and shrinking workforces over the next decade and beyond.

“We are now in a period of unusually slow working-age population growth—nearly zero through 2030, according to the U.S. Census Bureau,” said Gad Levanon, Director of Macroeconomic Research at The Conference Board and a co-author of the report. “The underlying demographic trends mean even delayed retirement and higher participation rates will do little to stop labor demand from far outstripping labor-force growth. But while adjusting to this reality will require national thinking and perhaps a federal policy response, the onset and impact of the worker shortage will vary widely across the U.S. For many places in the Northeast and Midwest, the time is now.” Read More…

Labor Shortages to Have Uneven Effect Across U.S.