Not just ski areas..construction,retail,food..
Have to wonder..what is everyone doing?
They quit...but now what? Unemployment only goes so far.
There's a lot of factors, but the 55+ age group is showing a significant decline in work force participation. You know first hand the biggest reason that's been possible and probably why you, yourself are where you are. The market remained remarkably resilient and that was a big point for all of the stimulus; keep people spending.
Had we had a prolonged market downtown, there likely would be far more people still hustling. Not that I'm rooting for anything like that such that I get better service at the grocery store and Starbucks.