The 5 sectors struggling the most with hiring and what it says about the reopening US economy

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• A labor shortage is slowing the US economic rebound, but its effects aren't evenly spread.
• While job openings have skyrocketed, some sectors are seeing little take-up as people return to work.
• Detailed below are the five industries having the hardest time hiring through the economic reopening.

Various signs point to a historic labor shortage in the US economy. But not all sectors are experiencing the same pain.

What began as a strong recovery for the labor market hit a major snag in the spring: Americans weren't rushing back to the workforce. Hiring slowed sharply in April and missed expectations again in May. Wage growth soared through both months as employers looked to attract workers. Both job openings and quits hit all-time highs in April.

Alleged causes of the worker shortage are abundant. Democrats see expensive childcare and COVID-19 fears as holding Americans back from seeking work. Republicans have blamed the shortfall on President Joe Biden's stimulus plans, specifically the federal government's $300-per-week boost to unemployment insurance.

But while lawmakers paint the shortage as an issue plaguing the broad economy, some sectors are having far harder times at hiring compared to their pre-pandemic trends. Data published in last week's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report reveals where companies are struggling the most to rehire.