You misunderstand. It groups those who do not work and are looking for a job, with those who work, as being part of the labour force, and thus "participating".

You misunderstand. It groups those who do not work and are looking for a job, with those who work, as being part of the labour force, and thus "participating". Nonparticipants are anyone not looking for work, like homemakers, students, retirees, etc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_force_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_force_in_the_United_Stat...