Lately, employers say that not enough people want to apply for open jobs, columnist and podcast host Ezra Klein said on the June 8 episode of The Ezra Klein Show, produced by the New York Times. At the same time, many workers don't feel safe taking certain jobs under continued threat of the coronavirus and child care disruptions.
In this episode, Jamila Michener, associate professor of government and a co-director of Cornell’s Center for Health Equity, discussed the role of poverty in the economy, social programs, and cultural narratives around work.
"We should be worried about what's going on on the side of people —ordinary people—who are navigating the labor market for their survival," Michener said in the interview. "How can we focus on what's going on in people's lives and actually address those issues?"
