season is here, but this year businesses both big and small are feeling the squeeze. in an nbc news exclusive, jo ling kent spoke to the u.s. labor secretary about when we will see relief and the economic threat from the new omicron variant. >> reporter: for the first time labor secretary marty walsh visiting the clogged port of los angeles, filled with idling container ships. >> i would say the port may not be operating 24/7, but at they're certainly operating as a higher capacity >> reporter: when do you think the supply chain will be back to normal >> i don't think there's ever a normal in the supply chain. i think it's always been ups and downs >> reporter: the port of l.a. says the number of containers waiting to be unloaded has dropped 37% since late october, but fed chie jerome powell today laying out fears brought on by the omicron variant. >> greater concerns about the virus could reduce people' willingness to work in person which would slow progress in the labor market and intensify supply chain disruptions. >> reporter: how are you as labor secretary going to incentivize people to keep going back to work >> i think the biggest