The Ethics and Public Policy Center’s Henry Olsen believes that part of the explanation for our recent labor shortage is that, thanks to the pandemic, many families got a taste of the one-earner family lifestyle, liked it, and are opting out of returning to two-earner family status as the economy improves.

“Last year’s enforced idleness and economic slowdown surely pushed many families into a one-earner status — even if unwillingly,” Olsen wrote. “It’s not unreasonable to assume that some liked the subsequent work-life balance. Rather than struggle to care for children and satisfy bosses, not to mention carve out time for one another, some couples surely found that they could make do with one wage and have a better quality of life.”