Economist Discusses Future Of Work As Pandemic Changes Workplace For Employees And Employers

The ongoing pandemic has reshaped our working lives.  Many jobs were lost when shutdowns were implemented.  Others were sent home from their offices to work from home.  Eighteen months later those ripples are still being felt.  Employers are finding it hard to fill open positions and those working from home are not enthusiastic about a return to full pre-pandemic office work routines.  Economist and futurist, Rebecca Ryan, discussed the future of work with The Sound of Ideas and how the pandemic continues to change our relationship with work.  It’s a conversation that is timely as we navigate the latest rise in cases as well as reflect on work for the recent Labor Day holiday.

But first, it is down to the final week of campaigning for the seven candidates in the Cleveland mayoral race.

Tuesday is primary day and when polls close and the votes tabulated, the field of seven will be reduced down to two.  Those two final candidates will face off in the November 2 general election. 

It is the first change in leadership at the Cleveland mayor’s position in 16 years.  Mayor Frank Jackson has said he will retire at the end of this current term---his fourth consecutive term in the city’s top job. But how many of Cleveland’s voters will cast a ballot?  What role will younger voters play in deciding the future of the city’s leadership?

Ideastream Public Media has been closely following the candidates and issues in the mayoral race in our new podcast, “After Jackson: Cleveland’s Next Mayor.”

In our latest episode, Ideastream Public Media Senior Reporter Nick Castele, examines how candidates are trying to reach as many prospective voters as possible in the final days.  And we examine how engaged younger voters are in this race.

 Also in this episode, Ideastream Public Media’s Gabriel Kramer takes a look at how voter turnout may shape the outcome of the primary.  There are 247,610 registered voters in the city today.  If the past is any guide 33,000 to 40, 000 will cast votes.  Those voters will likely be older and come from turnout leading neighborhoods such as West Park, Old Brooklyn and Lee-Harvard.

You can follow the After Jackson: Cleveland's Next Mayor podcast and download it from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and NPR One.  We will also continue to bring you the episodes weekly here on The Sound of Ideas.

Nick Castele, Senior Reporter, Ideastream Public Meida

Rebecca Ryan, Economist, Futurist