While many pet grooming businesses were forced to close for good and others left the industry, pet adoptions went up. This has led to a shortage of workers.
A new report from Commodity.com, using Department of Labor statistics, looks at which U.S. states have the most job openings. After falling to 3.5% amid COVID shutdowns in April 2020, the rate of job openings has doubled to 7% over the last two years. As the U.S. continues to navigate the lasting ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, key economic indicators are sending mixed messages about where the economy stands today. On the positive side, GDP increased by 6.9% in the last three months of 2021, and consumer spending started off strong in 2022. Simultaneously, year-over-year inflation is at record levels according to the Consumer Price Index, and the U.S. Federal Reserve is raising interest rates to slow the economy. Many supply chain issues from 2021 have extended into 2022, with new COVID outbreaks in China, the war in Ukraine, and high energy prices creating additional challenges. The labor market provides another set of unclear signals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported