As the pandemic continues to impact our economy in a number of unpredictable ways, researchers are just beginning to understand one major factor that has flown under the radar: long Covid.

With about 16 million Americans suffering from long Covid symptoms, a new report from the Brookings Institute showcases just how large of an impact this has had on our labor market and economy.

On our Pitchfork Economics podcast, we spoke with the author of the study, Katie Bach, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. Follow this link and listen to the full podcast episode now. >>>

Bach’s report reveals that somewhere between 2 and 4 million Americans are out of work due to their long Covid symptoms. As a result, the annual cost of lost wages due to long Covid is between $170 billion and $230 billion per year.

When Americans are unable to work and receive a paycheck, spending decreases in local economies – which is bad news for all of us. It’s a major issue that will only be solved if our leaders develop specific policy interventions, like paid sick leave, disability insurance, employer accommodations for workers challenged by long-term illnesses, and more.

To learn more about long Covid’s impact on the economy, listen to Bach discuss her report on Pitchfork Economics.

Thanks for reading,

Team Civic Action