Catherwood LibraryILR School

Six million people are still looking for work in today's economy, along with another 5.7 million people who have given up but still need a job. Meanwhile, labor shortages across the country in various industries imply many employers are somehow still not hiring or retaining the numbers of people that they need. Recruitment professionals think that various underutilized groups of talented people who often had difficulty getting interviews before the pandemic may have an easier time now with the many labor shortages, but it's still difficult to get employers to consider looking for talent in groups they're not familiar with - such as people with disabilities, people who have been incarcerated, and retired people who may be looking to return to work. Other neglected groups include college age and other young people between the ages of 16 and 24. Discrimination and barriers still exist in hiring, and these days, with a renewed appreciation for flexible work arrangements, people with disabilities may especially benefit from being able to work at home with greater comfort levels.