>Could these be explained by the dramatic rise in psychologists and chiropractors that have started diagnosing people that would not have sought or would not ha

>Could these be explained by the dramatic rise in psychologists and chiropractors that have started diagnosing people that would not have sought or would not have been eligible for disability benefits in times past? Yes, combined with the welfare-to-work program implemented under Clinton. In that program, welfare recipients who were unable to find jobs were pushed onto disability, since disability is paid out by the federal government. Thus, Clinton could say he 'ended welfare as we know it' and state politicians could boast that they reduced unemployment (which is paid for by the states), since unemployment statistics don't account for workers not in the workforce. Here's an article from a few years back about this: http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/ http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/ As mentioned in other comments, this is America's first foray into UBI. While not stated outright, the push for putting 'unemployable' individuals onto disability is a clear admission that automation and offshoring has created post-work economy for the least educated and the least mobile.