The Federal Reserve on Thursday said that businesses have reported COVID-19 vaccine mandates have hurt employment and are contributing to labor supply problems—even before President Joe Biden’s previously announced vaccine mandate for private businesses goes into effect. While employment increased at a modest to moderate rate in recent weeks, the Fed’s so-called Beige Book noted that the U.S. economy has been “dampened by a low supply of workers,” partially due to vaccine mandates. “Transportation and technology firms saw particularly low labor supply, while many retail, hospitality, and manufacturing firms cut hours or production because they did not have enough workers,” its report summary said. “Firms reported high turnover, as workers left for other jobs or retired. Child-care issues and vaccine mandates were widely cited as contributing to the problem, along with COVID-related absences.” Individual Fed banks said they have heard of employees quitting over mandates. While the Federal Reserve Bank …