How the opioid crisis hampers the participation of American workers

The US opioid crisis is hitting the country on many fronts, including the labor market, according to data reviewed by CNBC.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell acknowledged Sunday the impact of the opioid crisis on the US economy. "The opioid crisis is affecting tens of millions of people, usually young men, which is a very important issue and is part of a broader perspective," he said. he declares.

"When you have people who do not participate in the economic life of the country significantly, who do not have the skills and abilities to play a role – or who do not do it because they are addicts or in prison – in a sense, they are left behind, "added Powell. "We have an unusually large number of people who are not in the labor force and are not in the labor market." The United States has a lower labor force than almost any other advanced country. This is not our self-image. "

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