The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted employment in many ways and reshaped patterns of work. This report works to better understand the conditions that impact unemployment and that keep individuals from finding a job that fits. It focuses on unemployment examining those who are unemployed and looking for work and those who are unemployed and not looking for work. This distinction highlights concerns around widespread discouragement as the root cause of disengagement with the workforce.

Understanding the dynamics that lead to long-term unemployment are critical to inform strategies to develop skills and create opportunities for all. Specifically, the purpose of this analysis was to further investigate the following research questions: Which demographic groups are more likely to experience long-term unemployment? How do those who are unemployed and looking for work differ from those that are unemployed and not looking for work? Do we see demographic differences based on variables such as educational attainment, physical health or disability status? What are the reasons why some unemployed individuals are not looking for work?