Paragraph 1: The pandemic reshaped the global employment landscape and triggered notable demographic shifts. Lockdowns and restrictions forced many industries to downsize, leading to massive layoffs and a sudden shift toward remote work. This scramble to adapt not only transformed the nature of jobs but also altered the way people view long-term career stability. Simultaneously, many countries observed a worrying decline in birth rates as economic uncertainties and health concerns discouraged couples from starting or expanding families. The combination of shrinking workforces and fewer young people being born has created a lasting imbalance in labour markets. This trend poses serious economic challenges because a smaller generation of workers will have to support an aging population, putting pressure on healthcare systems, pension funds, and overall productivity. Economists warn that unless nations develop sustainable policies to attract or retain workers, they may face years of slowed growth and strained public finances.

Paragraph 2: Japan, America, and Britain offer striking examples of how the workforce is changing after the pandemic. Data shows a noticeable rise in resignations among senior employees, many of whom accelerated their retirement plans after experiencing the flexibility of working from home or re-evaluating their work-life balance. At the same time, younger workers have also been resigning in large numbers, either seeking better opportunities or opting for freelance and remote roles that provide more autonomy. Analysts point to several reasons for this shared reluctance to return to traditional employment: government handouts during the crisis improved short-term financial security, strong financial market performance allowed many to rely on investments, and the need for family care made rigid office routines less attractive. With rich countries now facing a shortage of both experienced professionals and eager young entrants, many have begun to open their doors wider to foreign workers to fill essential roles. This dual exodus of older and younger talent has highlighted the urgency for policies that can rejuvenate labour participation and ensure economies remain resilient in the post-pandemic era.

In which of the following sentences is the word “scramble” used most similarly to its use in the passage?
(I) The kids scrambled up the hill, laughing and tripping over rocks.
(II) The military scrambled fighter jets after detecting a threat.
(III) There was a scramble in the markets as traders rushed to sell off risky assets.