Table 5.5
Decline in the labor force participation rate from 1989 to 2011 and its possible effect on the unemployment rate in 2011, by gender and age
| Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Age | 1989 | 2007 | 2011 | Counterfactual 2011 rate* | 2011 | Counterfactual 2011 rate** |
| Men | 16–24 | 73.1% | 61.5% | 56.6% | 59.8% | 18.7% | 23.1% |
| 25–54 | 93.7 | 90.9 | 88.7 | 90.3 | 8.2 | 9.8 | |
| 55+ | 39.6 | 45.2 | 46.3 | 45.9 | 7.0 | 6.1 | |
| Women | 16–24 | 64.5% | 57.2% | 53.3% | 56.5% | 15.7% | 20.5% |
| 25–54 | 73.7 | 75.4 | 74.7 | 75.6 | 7.6 | 8.8 | |
| 55+ | 23.0 | 33.2 | 35.1 | 35.8 | 6.2 | 8.1 | |
| All | 66.5% | 66.0% | 64.1% | 65.4% | 8.9% | 10.7% | |
* The column shows the labor force participation rate had it followed its long-term trend.
** The column shows the unemployment rate had the workers making up the difference between the 2011 labor force participation rate and its long-term trend instead been in the labor force and unemployed.
Source: Authors' analysis of basic monthly Current Population Survey microdata
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