We're still very much in a pandemic, and, especially with fears over a new variant, health concerns may stick around. For instance, S&P global economists said in a note that 1.4 million workers may not return until "pandemic-related issues are resolved." JPMorgan chief global economist David Kelly noted that some workers may be contending with long-Covid symptoms.
Broadly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that, in November, 1.2 million people didn't look for work because of the pandemic. In addition, some workers may be quitting or staying out of work because they're hesitant to get the vaccine, as more businesses put requirements in place.
"The virus is still very much with us," Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh told Insider in October, noting that hundreds of thousands Americans had tragically died from the virus.