Report: Five Million Men Still Missing From Labor Force

The U.S. would have nearly 5 million more workers today if men in their prime working years (ages 25 through 54) were employed at the same rate as in the 1950s and ’60s. Bloomberg (subscription) reports that employment among prime-age men is an estimated 86.1%, which is “quite low by historical standards.”

Researchers say key factors for the lower employment rate include health problems, substance abuse, and “increased reliance on disability insurance and other government programs.”

Meanwhile, the employment rate for prime-age women in the U.S. was 74.1% in March, not far off the all-time high of 74.9% set in April 2000, according to Bloomberg. 4/14/2022