[Wyatt's Torch]

Here are the long term trends:

Total:

Interestingly it corresponds to the rise and subsequent fall in women entering and leaving the labor force as participation rate for men has been declining steadily since the 1950's.

Here is the data by gender:

Women:

Men:

Now the question is, how much of the decline since the peak in the 1990's is "structural" versus "cyclical."

Participation rate in 55+ year olds had been increasing until recently and appears to have rolled over and started declining as baby Boomers start to retire:

Meanwhile participation rate for 20-24 year olds has been declining but appears to have flattened out and will likely start to rise along with the Millennial population boom entrance into the workforce.

Keep in mind that there are more 24 year olds in the US than any other age group.

[tanknetter]

Excellent graphs, thanks for providing them!

[M Kehoe]

Good afternoon.

Good post, but you didn’t answer your question. Allow me: “structural.”

Not so much the technology factor, but the 0bamacare factor. Gov regulations, and policy has made this “recovery” a jobless recovery.

There are many more reasons why the economy is stagnant, but I’m not getting paid for my advice...

5.56mm