Study: Why Younger Men Drop Out of the Workforce

The labor force participation rate of American men has been mostly falling since the late 1960s. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics this month published findings from a recent study examining common traits of men ages 30-36 who have dropped out of the workforce.

A large percentage of non-workers responded that incarceration had limited their ability to work. More than 20% reported they had been incarcerated in the previous 12 months, and more than 36% said they had been incarcerated at some point in their lives.

Formerly incarcerated individuals are a key focus of the OMA’s scaling apprenticeship grant outreach efforts. Members who are interested in expanding their manufacturing talent pools — including from non-traditional populations — should reach out to the OMA’s Sara Tracey. 12/14/2020