Why Did Labor Force Participation Rate Decline When the Economy Was Good?

Aging boomers solve a labor market puzzle. Learn more in this America Counts story.

America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers Why Did Labor Force Participation Rate Decline When the Economy Was Good? The last decade was free of recessions and from the opening bell in January 2010 to the closing bell in December 2019, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 soared 173.60% and 189.35%, respectively. The Gross Domestic Product increased from $14.992 trillion to $21.433 trillion. Yet, during that same period, the labor force participation rate actually declined. Read More The solution to this labor market puzzle: rise in the percentage of the population ages 65 and over. The oldest baby boomers were 64 in 2010 and 73 in 2019. As they aged, a large segment of the population shifted into 65 and older age groups. Continue reading to learn more about: Labor force participation by age Effect of aging on labor force Labor force trends in states Aging and unemployment Aging out, not dropping out Help us spread the word about America Counts. Share this story on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This You May Be Interested Moms, Work and the Pandemic: New data show that there were 1.4 million more mothers not actively working for pay in January compared to pre-pandemic levels. Learn More About America Counts America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, economy, emergency preparedness, health, population, income and poverty. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews. Don't miss an America Counts story! Subscribe here.

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