[ChildOfThe60s]

I am retired, I guess technically because I collect Social Security at 74

However I am self-employed and continue to earn a full-time income with the business that I have had for a number of years. In my case as long as I’m physically able and have customers I’m going to continue doing so. So I wonder if I’m considered unemployed because I’m retired, or I’m considered employed

I wonder if there’s a significant number of these people that are part of the underground economy to avoid crippling taxes and regulations? I remember reading many years ago that in Italy one third of the entire economy was underground because of the government

[KarlInOhio]

It looks like the data source is https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm. It lists employed and unemployed (not working but actively looking) as in the labor force and a second number for those not in the labor force.

Being on Social Security doesn't matter for these numbers. Since you are working for money, you are employed. Similarly, someone collecting retirement from one job but working part time is also employed. And the ages counted are 16 and up for the primary data, so slacker high school sophomores also count as outside the labor force.