Report: 7.2 Million Prime Working Age Men Not Working

CBS recently spotlighted the more than 770,000 U.S. job openings in manufacturing, while examining the factors behind roughly 7.2 million American men of prime working age (between 25 and 54 years old) not working or looking for work. Watch the video.

According to the report, economists attribute the lower workforce participation rate to a skills mismatch, applicants with criminal histories, and ongoing government “safety nets.”

Check out this graph comparing labor force participation rates of various age groups since the start of COVID-19. At the end of 2022, the rate for no age group had fully recovered to February 2020 levels, although the 25-54 group was closest. 2/14/2023