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If you are going to look at participation rates, I find its best to look at the age, gender and race breakdowns to understand which changes are cyclical and whi

If you are going to look at participation rates, I find its best to look at the age, gender and race breakdowns to understand which changes are cyclical and which ones are driven more by demographics and cultural changes. https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/civilian-labor-force-participation-rate.htm https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/civilian-labor-force-particip... For example, there have been huge upticks in 55+ labor participation rates and huge downtrend of teenager participation over the last 20 years.

chrisfinazzo 8y ago
I assume these stats are cumulative in terms of PT, FT, or a shared arrangement? Still, feels odd to see the metrics begin at 16. While some people I know (myself included) had part time jobs at that point, most didn't. 21-22 seems like a more reasonable starting point, given time off for people who went to college - or 18 for people who didn't. Seems like they should isolate these such that when they say "The unemployment rate is X and the participation rate is Y" they acknowledge most 16 y/o are not primary breadwinners.