The Missing School Bus Drivers: A look at employment data before and after the COVID-19 pandemic Archives

The pandemic changed the U.S. labor market. Here’s how.

It’s been five years since Covid-19 lockdowns brought parts of the U.S. economy to a halt. While the crisis has passed, its impact on the labor market, especially wages, is still unfolding. In February 2020, the U.S. economy was enjoying a Goldilocks moment. Unemployment was 3.5 percent, hiring was steady, and wages were rising modestly faster than inflation.

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November 29, 2021

Wanted: Drivers for yellow buses

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

November 29, 2021

Bus Driver Employment Trends

Bus drivers took a big hit from the COVID-19 shutdown. Schools were shuttered and workers were furloughed. After classrooms reopened, employment levels rebounded, but school bus driver ranks were 14% smaller in September 2021 than they were in September 2019.

Employment dropped most significantly for 25- to 34-year-old drivers. Workers in this age group fell by ...

November 29, 2021

Summary of The Missing School Bus Drivers

This fall brought school re-openings and a return to in-class learning on a wide scale. It also brought a scramble to get bus drivers back behind the wheel. While most school drivers answered the call and returned to work, we found that about 13% of them are missing in action.

The ADP Research Institute used anonymized ...

November 29, 2021