The “great resignation” is the idea that people are quitting their jobs en masse during the pandemic, either to look for new jobs or to leave the workforce entirely. Although this seems to be a phenomenon in the US, nothing seems to have changed across the pond. Data from the Labour Force Survey, which releases official UK unemployment statistics monthly, shows that there’s no rise in both quit and hire rates for 2021; in fact, the job-to-job movement rate is well below the norm. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here