Figure F
Men’s labor force declined at the same time the share of men in the military fell: Men's prime-age labor force participation and share in the military, 1948–2023
| Date | Prime-age LFPR | Share of prime-age male population in the military |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 96.6% | 7.0% |
| 1949 | 96.5% | 8.3% |
| 1950 | 96.5% | 8.6% |
| 1951 | 96.8% | 12.6% |
| 1952 | 97.2% | 14.1% |
| 1953 | 97.4% | 13.6% |
| 1954 | 97.3% | 13.2% |
| 1955 | 97.4% | 12.5% |
| 1956 | 97.3% | 12.3% |
| 1957 | 97.1% | 12.4% |
| 1958 | 97.1% | 11.7% |
| 1959 | 97.1% | 11.5% |
| 1960 | 97.0% | 11.4% |
| 1961 | 96.9% | 11.6% |
| 1962 | 96.8% | 11.9% |
| 1963 | 96.8% | 11.6% |
| 1964 | 96.8% | 11.9% |
| 1965 | 96.7% | 11.7% |
| 1966 | 96.6% | 13.2% |
| 1967 | 96.6% | 14.0% |
| 1968 | 96.3% | 13.9% |
| 1969 | 96.1% | 13.6% |
| 1970 | 95.8% | 12.4% |
| 1971 | 95.5% | 11.2% |
| 1972 | 95.1% | 9.8% |
| 1973 | 95.0% | 9.3% |
| 1974 | 94.7% | 8.8% |
| 1975 | 94.4% | 8.4% |
| 1976 | 94.2% | 7.9% |
| 1977 | 94.2% | 7.6% |
| 1978 | 94.3% | 7.4% |
| 1979 | 94.4% | 7.2% |
| 1980 | 94.2% | 7.1% |
| 1981 | 94.1% | 7.2% |
| 1982 | 94.0% | 7.2% |
| 1983 | 93.8% | 7.1% |
| 1984 | 93.9% | 7.0% |
| 1985 | 93.9% | 7.0% |
| 1986 | 93.8% | 6.9% |
| 1987 | 93.7% | 6.8% |
| 1988 | 93.6% | 6.6% |
| 1989 | 93.7% | 6.4% |
| 1990 | 93.4% | 6.2% |
| 1991 | 93.1% | 6.0% |
| 1992 | 93.0% | 5.6% |
| 1993 | 92.6% | 5.1% |
| 1994 | 91.7% | 4.8% |
| 1995 | 91.6% | 4.5% |
| 1996 | 91.8% | 4.3% |
| 1997 | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| 1998 | 91.8% | 4.0% |
| 1999 | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| 2000 | 91.6% | 3.9% |
| 2001 | 91.3% | 3.8% |
| 2002 | 91.0% | 3.9% |
| 2003 | 90.6% | 3.9% |
| 2004 | 90.5% | 3.8% |
| 2005 | 90.5% | 3.7% |
| 2006 | 90.6% | 3.7% |
| 2007 | 90.9% | 3.6% |
| 2008 | 90.5% | 3.7% |
| 2009 | 89.7% | 3.7% |
| 2010 | 89.3% | 3.7% |
| 2011 | 88.7% | 3.8% |
| 2012 | 88.7% | 3.7% |
| 2013 | 88.4% | 3.7% |
| 2014 | 88.2% | 3.6% |
| 2015 | 88.3% | 3.5% |
| 2016 | 88.5% | 3.5% |
| 2017 | 88.6% | 3.5% |
| 2018 | 89.0% | 3.5% |
| 2019 | 89.1% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 87.9% | 3.5% |
| 2021 | 88.0% | 3.5% |
| 2022 | 88.6% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 89.1% | 3.3% |
Notes: Data include the civilian noninstitutional population. “Prime age” refers to ages 25 to 54.
Source: EPI analysis of the Current Population Survey (CPS) basic monthly microdata, EPI Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 2025.6.11, https://microdata.epi.org.
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