Full Citation
Title: Where Is Everybody? The Shrinking Labor Force Participation Rate
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2017
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Abstract: The labor force participation rate has been falling in this country for nearly two decades. For men of prime working age, it has been falling for more than half a century. And the fall has been particularly acute among black men. The decline in participation has also accelerated since the Great Recession, largely due to the start of retirement by baby boomers. Low participation is distinct from unemployment—looking for a job but not finding one—which has fallen sharply since the recession. It is also distinct from the lingering problem of underemployment— settling for part-time or occasional work but wanting full-time work that matches one’s skills. Rather, a falling participation rate means more people are simply unable or unwilling to work at current wages.
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Authors: Dotsey, Michael; Fujita, Shigeru; Rudanko, Leena
Publisher: Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Department
Data Collections: IPUMS CPS
Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Other
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