In the US, rents and home prices have been on the rise, which has made it harder for employers to attract and retain middle-income workers who have been struggling to afford housing near their jobs. Furthermore, staff shortages have been exacerbated by the tight post-pandemic labor market and low unemployment rates. As a result, various employers like Disney, Meta, and some school systems and health care providers have begun building their own housing for their workers. This new trend has demonstrated how the affordable housing shortage has impacted the broader economy and labor market. One company in particular, Cook Medical, based in Indiana, has created an entire housing development to offer workers homes close to the office at below-market prices and in hopes of helping to attract more younger workers.
See " Lack of affordable housing and labor shortages in the US prompt some employers to build housing near their offices for their workers ", Jennifer Ludden and Marisa Penaloza, NPR, May 2, 2023