(10-12-2021 11:56 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 09:59 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 09:49 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  I'd say a big reason many haven't returned to the work force is that many schools are still at least partially closed and doing online education... thus the kids are not getting that 8-3 'daycare' that their parents taxes have paid for.

https://www.crpe.org/thelens/surging-enr...licymakers

For some, their kids have flourished by being removed from the distractions and 'dangers' of some schools... while many others have struggled mightily with the lack of discipline at home, especially if there isn't a parent home.

Well, at least one person agrees with me on childcare being an issue. I'll take it where I can get it

Well, I'm referring to 'in person school' as being 'childcare'... so bottom line, the SOLUTION for that issue is to simply get people back going to school, ALMOST no matter what. As the CDC has pointed out numerous times before during health scares, the value of in person education and parents working is VASTLY greater than the risk of getting sick if its not deadly or highly debilitating to kids, which it isn't (that we know of now). Since we were discussing masks in schools and teachers unions, it seems the unions need to police themselves and get out of the way 'for the greater public good'.

**ETA, of course its not the union's job to represent 'everyone else', but this is an instance where what they think is best for teachers is NOT what is best for their students.

Child care is AN issue. I feel pretty certain it isn't THE issue... and may not even be in the top three.

I'd also note that the media and administration have done such a good job of scaring people, they have some people afraid to send their kids to child care. It's the flip side of all of this 'get a vaccine or else bad things happen to us all' fear-mongering.

I would consider school to be child care as well - so yes, getting students back in person is priority. But I didn't think many (if any) school districts were full remote this fall. Have some continued to operate in full remote or even hybrid (some days with cohort X and others with Y)? As such, I've thought of things like daycare and early ed (Pre-K) to be of most importance. But primary, middle, and high school do play a huge role (plus pre- and post-school services).

I'd put childcare near the top, if not at the top, of items impacting current labor numbers given the discrepancy in women returning to the work place (as women disproportionately take on childcare duties).

What other factors are having a bigger impact in your mind? Seems like one is people being scared of going back to work. What are the others?