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The coronavirus pandemic has eased in the U.S., but the slow return of workers is overshadowing the economy's recovery. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Datawatch

U.S. return to work lags Japan, EU in wake of COVID

Labor crunch could stifle economic rebound, stoke inflation

YUTA SAITO and YOHEI MATSUO, Nikkei staff writers | U.S.

NEW YORK/TOKYO -- The U.S. workforce is still below its pre-coronavirus size despite vaccine rollouts and easing restrictions, trailing labor recoveries in Japan and Europe and stoking worries about the pace of rebound in the world's largest economy.

Although the U.S. working population -- which consists of people holding or seeking jobs -- rose for the fifth straight month in February, to 164 million, that was still a touch under the level recorded in the same month in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted.

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