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)

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

March 20, 2022 18:14 JST

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.