Source: https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-labor-force-participation-rate.htm https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-lab

Source: https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-labor-force-participation-rate.htm https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-lab... Workforce Participation (a per capita metric) decreased. Starting from 2002 with a participation of 66%, the US employed ~192 million. But in 2022 at a participation of 62%, the US employed ~203 million. Absolute employment is up. Between that and productivity gains, more work is being done today than ever before.