People I know in HR departments are saying they are being absolutely flooded with resumes from people who have a 2 or 3 year gap since they last worked. Employers are very skeptical of hiring these people. Look for the Government to take a carrot-and-stick approach (tax credits for hiring these people, and a jackboot on your throat if we catch you not hiring them)
The unemployment extension is what kept the rate up. The government was paying people to not work. I know quite a few people working under the table while collecting Unemployment.
Good. Gaps in an employment record, particularly those not involving prison time, should not be barriers to employment. Pull that with a woman who had a child and end up with a lawsuit. This pariah mentality in HR must end. People who have had jobs don't need jobs like those who haven't.
Kind of think you are right. That might work with higher paying jobs, but the low waged jobs have to take the first in the door who can read, write and pass a P test.