r/Zippia

The US is headed towards largest labor shortage in history - looking at a gap of roughly 6 million workers by 2032. But simultaneously you know a bunch of people who have been unemployed for 6 months or more. So what gives? 

It’s about a shortage of the right people in the right place with the right skills. (As well as picky employers - roughly a third of job openings can’t be filled by someone with experience in a related field.) “Employers want very specific experience. Job seekers, especially recent grads with general degrees, often don’t have it. The shortage will hit hardest in nursing and health care, skilled trades, construction, teaching, and precision manufacturing.” The article points out that these roles require a physical presence, a license or years of hands-on skill. 

The answer for job seekers? “Instead of waiting for the perfect role that matches a diploma, explore adjacent fields, trade certifications, or apprenticeships that can open doors faster.”

Came across this Cut piece about a 39-year-old retired woman, Lauren. She’s been retired for four years after working at a tech firm and supplementing her income with any freelance gigs she could get. And honestly, the title to this post is only half serious - kudos to her for doing what I definitely haven’t!!

But: “What’s life like as a retiree in your 30s? Lauren sleeps eight to ten hours a night, fosters animals, reads, and volunteers. But she’s also the first to admit she’s a little lonely. All her friends are still working and will be for decades. And she can’t shake the fear that, despite having a fully paid-off house, no debt, and a seven-figure investment account, it may not be enough.” 

Totally get feeling a bit lonely and cut off from society (I think there’s more to work than just a salary - it’s good to be in a routine and around other people). But the fear sounds a bit mad - she talks about considering doing a part time job. Feels like a no brainer.

Previously, firms like McKinsey have called themselves the “CEO factory”, and graduates have lined up for work: get an offer from a place like this, and everything else would fall into place. But now business analysts are “either using AI for their own efficiency or being told to”, a former consultant told the Guardian.

The business analyst programme used to be a good training ground for graduates. “Analysts would learn by owning their own corner of knowledge, getting in the weeds deeply enough to “crack” something, then present it in front of a client. Your progression, and your learning, was contingent on that ownership. Now, this execution lies mainly with an AI.” Which means that since they use GenAI for internal knowledge management, entry level roles have essentially become factchecking. And it used to be the case that you’d prove you could do things quickly and well by working at a consultancy firm and could then scoop up a flashy job at another big company - but with white-collar at risk, there’s now “a pool of 300 analysts going for the same five jobs.”

Saw this and it called me out! 

“About 43% of Americans aged 34 to 44 employed by private companies do not have a retirement plan in place, as well as 41% of those 45 to 54 years old, and 40% of U.S. workers who are 55 to 65. That means that around four in 10 U.S. Gen Xers, and even some baby boomers, aren’t squaring away money in retirement plans.”

I’m living paycheck to paycheck so don’t have a lot of money to put away into a savings account.

Right now, over a million people live and work legally in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status, a program that protects immigrants whose home countries are too dangerous to return to. They don't get a path to citizenship, but they help keep key industries - like healthcare, construction, and hospitality - running.

Now, a recent Supreme Court ruling clearing the way to end protections for hundreds of thousands of people puts the whole program at risk. What happens if America loses this workforce?