CONCORD — Approximately 4,000 New Hampshire residents may be out of the workforce entirely due to the lingering effects of long-COVID, according to a new study from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute.
This estimate highlights the significant and ongoing economic impact of the pandemic on the Granite State, where the average monthly number of unemployed individuals seeking work in 2024 stood at about 20,000.
With an estimated 4,000 Granite Staters who may be out of the workforce because of long-COVID and an additional 5,300 workers reducing their hours due to long-COVID, the analysis suggests that the health condition is a substantial barrier to full labor force recovery and future economic growth.
Researchers applied national methodologies to New Hampshire-specific data from the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (HPS).
Using population data, labor force participation rates, and estimates of the proportion of long-COVID sufferers affected in their work, the analysis identified approximately 9,300 residents whose employment is currently being impacted by long-COVID.
Of this group, nearly 43 percent — about 4,000 workers — have likely exited the workforce entirely, while the remainder may have reduced their hours by an average of 10 hours per week.
The analysis underscores how long-COVID’s debilitating symptoms — such as extreme fatigue, brain fog, and respiratory issues — have likely kept many Granite Staters from returning to work.
Key findings of the analysis include:
• Long-COVID affected approximately 22,400 Granite Staters’ work since the pandemic began through 2022, and 9,300 Granite Staters are still experiencing impacts in 2024.
• New Hampshire workers who reduced their hours may have lost an estimated $152.7 million in wages in 2022, while those who left the labor force entirely accounted for approximately $389.4 million in lost wages.
• Rates of long-COVID in New Hampshire have remained relatively consistent, with 6.5 percent of residents experiencing symptoms in 2024.
“Long-COVID is not just a public health concern, but an economic one,” said Jessica Williams the lead author of the analysis. “The persistent impact on New Hampshire’s workforce underscores the potential benefits of policies that support affected workers, including expanded assistance for individuals with disabilities, workplace accommodations, and long-term investments in public health infrastructure. Addressing these challenges would likely help sustain economic growth and mitigate the impacts of long-COVID on the workforce.”
While the impact on individual workers is profound, the economic ripple effects of long-COVID extend further. Many workers who remain employed despite symptoms could contribute to lower productivity and may create additional hidden costs for employers and the broader economy.
Caregivers who leave the workforce to support family members with long-COVID further amplify the economic strain.
Read the full analysis at https://shorturl.at/VkLXG