"30,000 People Absent Daily Due to Post-COVID Symptoms... Australia Struggles with Workforce Shortage"

"Australia Ranks 2nd Among Developed Countries for 'Labor Shortage'"
Up to 4 Million Unable to Return to Work Due to Long COVID in the US

Labor force loss has become a serious issue due to the aftereffects of COVID-19. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Labor force losses are becoming severe due to the long-term aftereffects of COVID-19, known as 'Long COVID'.

On the 26th (local time), AFP news agency cited a report from the Australian Treasury, stating that 31,000 people in Australia were unable to work normally every day due to Long COVID, significantly worsening the labor shortage problem. In terms of working days, this amounts to a loss of 3 million workdays just this year.

Jim Chalmers, the Minister of Treasury, said, "The Australian labor market has completely collapsed due to COVID-19 and Long COVID."

Long COVID refers to symptoms such as fatigue, cough, muscle pain, general weakness, depression, and anxiety that persist for a long time after having COVID-19. According to a report published this month in the international medical journal The Lancet, 1 in 8 COVID-19 infected individuals (12.5%) suffer from Long COVID. This aligns with the related analysis by the Australian Treasury. Among those absent from work due to COVID-19 in Australia, 12% report Long COVID symptoms.

Australia, which closed its borders for the past two years during the spread of COVID-19, is currently facing a severe 'labor drought.' AFP, citing the OECD, reported that "Australia is the second most affected developed country by labor shortages after Canada."

The labor shortage caused by Long COVID is also occurring in the United States. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported yesterday, citing a Brookings Institution report, that approximately 2 to 4 million people have not returned to work due to Long COVID. The report analyzed that as the number of Americans unable to return to work due to Long COVID increases, the resulting wage loss will reach $170 billion annually (about 228 trillion KRW).

Katie Bach, one of the report's authors, explained, "In the UK, it has been analyzed that economic activity participation rates have dropped by 1.3% due to Long COVID," adding, "Similar levels of labor force losses due to Long COVID are appearing in other countries as well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.