Figure A
Since 2000, Prime-Age LFPR sinks as recessions hit and recovers only when unemployment is low again: Labor force participation rate, all workers 25-54 years old, 1995–2025
| Date | Prime-Age LFPR |
|---|---|
| Jan-1995 | 83.5% |
| Feb-1995 | 83.6% |
| Mar-1995 | 83.5% |
| Apr-1995 | 83.7% |
| May-1995 | 83.5% |
| Jun-1995 | 83.3% |
| Jul-1995 | 83.4% |
| Aug-1995 | 83.3% |
| Sep-1995 | 83.5% |
| Oct-1995 | 83.4% |
| Nov-1995 | 83.5% |
| Dec-1995 | 83.4% |
| Jan-1996 | 83.5% |
| Feb-1996 | 83.5% |
| Mar-1996 | 83.5% |
| Apr-1996 | 83.6% |
| May-1996 | 83.7% |
| Jun-1996 | 83.6% |
| Jul-1996 | 83.9% |
| Aug-1996 | 84.0% |
| Sep-1996 | 83.9% |
| Oct-1996 | 84.1% |
| Nov-1996 | 84.1% |
| Dec-1996 | 84.1% |
| Jan-1997 | 84.0% |
| Feb-1997 | 83.9% |
| Mar-1997 | 84.0% |
| Apr-1997 | 84.0% |
| May-1997 | 83.8% |
| Jun-1997 | 84.1% |
| Jul-1997 | 84.3% |
| Aug-1997 | 84.5% |
| Sep-1997 | 84.3% |
| Oct-1997 | 84.2% |
| Nov-1997 | 84.0% |
| Dec-1997 | 84.1% |
| Jan-1998 | 84.0% |
| Feb-1998 | 84.1% |
| Mar-1998 | 84.2% |
| Apr-1998 | 83.9% |
| May-1998 | 83.9% |
| Jun-1998 | 84.0% |
| Jul-1998 | 84.1% |
| Aug-1998 | 84.1% |
| Sep-1998 | 84.2% |
| Oct-1998 | 84.1% |
| Nov-1998 | 84.1% |
| Dec-1998 | 84.2% |
| Jan-1999 | 84.6% |
| Feb-1999 | 84.4% |
| Mar-1999 | 84.0% |
| Apr-1999 | 84.1% |
| May-1999 | 84.1% |
| Jun-1999 | 84.1% |
| Jul-1999 | 83.9% |
| Aug-1999 | 84.0% |
| Sep-1999 | 84.0% |
| Oct-1999 | 84.1% |
| Nov-1999 | 84.2% |
| Dec-1999 | 84.0% |
| Jan-2000 | 84.4% |
| Feb-2000 | 84.4% |
| Mar-2000 | 84.3% |
| Apr-2000 | 84.4% |
| May-2000 | 84.1% |
| Jun-2000 | 84.1% |
| Jul-2000 | 83.9% |
| Aug-2000 | 83.8% |
| Sep-2000 | 83.7% |
| Oct-2000 | 83.6% |
| Nov-2000 | 83.8% |
| Dec-2000 | 83.9% |
| Jan-2001 | 84.1% |
| Feb-2001 | 84.1% |
| Mar-2001 | 84.1% |
| Apr-2001 | 83.7% |
| May-2001 | 83.8% |
| Jun-2001 | 83.6% |
| Jul-2001 | 83.6% |
| Aug-2001 | 83.5% |
| Sep-2001 | 83.5% |
| Oct-2001 | 83.6% |
| Nov-2001 | 83.5% |
| Dec-2001 | 83.7% |
| Jan-2002 | 83.5% |
| Feb-2002 | 83.7% |
| Mar-2002 | 83.5% |
| Apr-2002 | 83.6% |
| May-2002 | 83.6% |
| Jun-2002 | 83.2% |
| Jul-2002 | 83.1% |
| Aug-2002 | 83.2% |
| Sep-2002 | 83.3% |
| Oct-2002 | 83.2% |
| Nov-2002 | 82.9% |
| Dec-2002 | 83.1% |
| Jan-2003 | 82.9% |
| Feb-2003 | 83.0% |
| Mar-2003 | 83.1% |
| Apr-2003 | 83.2% |
| May-2003 | 83.1% |
| Jun-2003 | 83.3% |
| Jul-2003 | 83.0% |
| Aug-2003 | 83.0% |
| Sep-2003 | 82.8% |
| Oct-2003 | 82.9% |
| Nov-2003 | 82.8% |
| Dec-2003 | 82.8% |
| Jan-2004 | 82.8% |
| Feb-2004 | 82.7% |
| Mar-2004 | 82.8% |
| Apr-2004 | 82.7% |
| May-2004 | 82.8% |
| Jun-2004 | 82.9% |
| Jul-2004 | 83.0% |
| Aug-2004 | 82.7% |
| Sep-2004 | 82.7% |
| Oct-2004 | 82.6% |
| Nov-2004 | 82.7% |
| Dec-2004 | 82.6% |
| Jan-2005 | 82.7% |
| Feb-2005 | 82.8% |
| Mar-2005 | 82.6% |
| Apr-2005 | 82.7% |
| May-2005 | 82.9% |
| Jun-2005 | 82.6% |
| Jul-2005 | 82.8% |
| Aug-2005 | 82.9% |
| Sep-2005 | 82.9% |
| Oct-2005 | 82.7% |
| Nov-2005 | 82.7% |
| Dec-2005 | 82.7% |
| Jan-2006 | 82.8% |
| Feb-2006 | 82.9% |
| Mar-2006 | 83.0% |
| Apr-2006 | 82.8% |
| May-2006 | 82.8% |
| Jun-2006 | 82.8% |
| Jul-2006 | 83.0% |
| Aug-2006 | 82.9% |
| Sep-2006 | 82.9% |
| Oct-2006 | 82.9% |
| Nov-2006 | 83.0% |
| Dec-2006 | 83.1% |
| Jan-2007 | 83.4% |
| Feb-2007 | 83.2% |
| Mar-2007 | 83.2% |
| Apr-2007 | 83.0% |
| May-2007 | 83.0% |
| Jun-2007 | 82.9% |
| Jul-2007 | 82.9% |
| Aug-2007 | 82.9% |
| Sep-2007 | 82.8% |
| Oct-2007 | 82.7% |
| Nov-2007 | 82.9% |
| Dec-2007 | 83.1% |
| Jan-2008 | 83.3% |
| Feb-2008 | 83.2% |
| Mar-2008 | 83.3% |
| Apr-2008 | 83.1% |
| May-2008 | 83.1% |
| Jun-2008 | 83.1% |
| Jul-2008 | 83.1% |
| Aug-2008 | 83.2% |
| Sep-2008 | 83.1% |
| Oct-2008 | 83.0% |
| Nov-2008 | 83.0% |
| Dec-2008 | 82.8% |
| Jan-2009 | 82.8% |
| Feb-2009 | 82.8% |
| Mar-2009 | 82.6% |
| Apr-2009 | 82.8% |
| May-2009 | 82.9% |
| Jun-2009 | 82.9% |
| Jul-2009 | 82.8% |
| Aug-2009 | 82.8% |
| Sep-2009 | 82.5% |
| Oct-2009 | 82.5% |
| Nov-2009 | 82.4% |
| Dec-2009 | 82.0% |
| Jan-2010 | 82.4% |
| Feb-2010 | 82.3% |
| Mar-2010 | 82.4% |
| Apr-2010 | 82.6% |
| May-2010 | 82.3% |
| Jun-2010 | 82.2% |
| Jul-2010 | 81.9% |
| Aug-2010 | 82.0% |
| Sep-2010 | 82.0% |
| Oct-2010 | 81.8% |
| Nov-2010 | 82.0% |
| Dec-2010 | 81.9% |
| Jan-2011 | 81.7% |
| Feb-2011 | 81.6% |
| Mar-2011 | 81.7% |
| Apr-2011 | 81.7% |
| May-2011 | 81.7% |
| Jun-2011 | 81.7% |
| Jul-2011 | 81.4% |
| Aug-2011 | 81.6% |
| Sep-2011 | 81.5% |
| Oct-2011 | 81.3% |
| Nov-2011 | 81.5% |
| Dec-2011 | 81.6% |
| Jan-2012 | 81.5% |
| Feb-2012 | 81.5% |
| Mar-2012 | 81.5% |
| Apr-2012 | 81.4% |
| May-2012 | 81.4% |
| Jun-2012 | 81.5% |
| Jul-2012 | 81.4% |
| Aug-2012 | 81.4% |
| Sep-2012 | 81.5% |
| Oct-2012 | 81.6% |
| Nov-2012 | 81.2% |
| Dec-2012 | 81.4% |
| Jan-2013 | 81.1% |
| Feb-2013 | 81.0% |
| Mar-2013 | 81.0% |
| Apr-2013 | 81.0% |
| May-2013 | 81.2% |
| Jun-2013 | 81.2% |
| Jul-2013 | 81.2% |
| Aug-2013 | 81.0% |
| Sep-2013 | 81.0% |
| Oct-2013 | 80.6% |
| Nov-2013 | 81.0% |
| Dec-2013 | 80.8% |
| Jan-2014 | 80.9% |
| Feb-2014 | 81.1% |
| Mar-2014 | 81.1% |
| Apr-2014 | 80.8% |
| May-2014 | 80.7% |
| Jun-2014 | 81.0% |
| Jul-2014 | 80.8% |
| Aug-2014 | 81.1% |
| Sep-2014 | 80.8% |
| Oct-2014 | 80.9% |
| Nov-2014 | 80.9% |
| Dec-2014 | 80.9% |
| Jan-2015 | 81.0% |
| Feb-2015 | 80.9% |
| Mar-2015 | 80.8% |
| Apr-2015 | 81.0% |
| May-2015 | 81.1% |
| Jun-2015 | 80.9% |
| Jul-2015 | 80.7% |
| Aug-2015 | 80.7% |
| Sep-2015 | 80.6% |
| Oct-2015 | 80.8% |
| Nov-2015 | 80.9% |
| Dec-2015 | 80.9% |
| Jan-2016 | 81.1% |
| Feb-2016 | 81.1% |
| Mar-2016 | 81.3% |
| Apr-2016 | 81.2% |
| May-2016 | 81.2% |
| Jun-2016 | 81.3% |
| Jul-2016 | 81.3% |
| Aug-2016 | 81.4% |
| Sep-2016 | 81.5% |
| Oct-2016 | 81.5% |
| Nov-2016 | 81.4% |
| Dec-2016 | 81.3% |
| Jan-2017 | 81.5% |
| Feb-2017 | 81.6% |
| Mar-2017 | 81.6% |
| Apr-2017 | 81.7% |
| May-2017 | 81.7% |
| Jun-2017 | 81.6% |
| Jul-2017 | 81.8% |
| Aug-2017 | 81.6% |
| Sep-2017 | 81.9% |
| Oct-2017 | 81.6% |
| Nov-2017 | 81.7% |
| Dec-2017 | 81.8% |
| Jan-2018 | 81.7% |
| Feb-2018 | 82.1% |
| Mar-2018 | 82.0% |
| Apr-2018 | 82.0% |
| May-2018 | 81.9% |
| Jun-2018 | 82.1% |
| Jul-2018 | 82.1% |
| Aug-2018 | 81.9% |
| Sep-2018 | 81.9% |
| Oct-2018 | 82.3% |
| Nov-2018 | 82.2% |
| Dec-2018 | 82.3% |
| Jan-2019 | 82.5% |
| Feb-2019 | 82.5% |
| Mar-2019 | 82.4% |
| Apr-2019 | 82.2% |
| May-2019 | 82.2% |
| Jun-2019 | 82.2% |
| Jul-2019 | 82.1% |
| Aug-2019 | 82.5% |
| Sep-2019 | 82.7% |
| Oct-2019 | 82.8% |
| Nov-2019 | 82.9% |
| Dec-2019 | 83.0% |
| Jan-2020 | 83.1% |
| Feb-2020 | 82.9% |
| Mar-2020 | 82.4% |
| Apr-2020 | 79.8% |
| May-2020 | 80.6% |
| Jun-2020 | 81.4% |
| Jul-2020 | 81.2% |
| Aug-2020 | 81.3% |
| Sep-2020 | 80.9% |
| Oct-2020 | 81.3% |
| Nov-2020 | 81.0% |
| Dec-2020 | 81.1% |
| Jan-2021 | 81.1% |
| Feb-2021 | 81.1% |
| Mar-2021 | 81.3% |
| Apr-2021 | 81.3% |
| May-2021 | 81.3% |
| Jun-2021 | 81.6% |
| Jul-2021 | 81.8% |
| Aug-2021 | 81.7% |
| Sep-2021 | 81.6% |
| Oct-2021 | 81.8% |
| Nov-2021 | 82.0% |
| Dec-2021 | 82.0% |
| Jan-2022 | 82.1% |
| Feb-2022 | 82.2% |
| Mar-2022 | 82.5% |
| Apr-2022 | 82.4% |
| May-2022 | 82.6% |
| Jun-2022 | 82.3% |
| Jul-2022 | 82.3% |
| Aug-2022 | 82.8% |
| Sep-2022 | 82.6% |
| Oct-2022 | 82.6% |
| Nov-2022 | 82.4% |
| Dec-2022 | 82.6% |
| Jan-2023 | 82.8% |
| Feb-2023 | 83.0% |
| Mar-2023 | 83.1% |
| Apr-2023 | 83.3% |
| May-2023 | 83.4% |
| Jun-2023 | 83.4% |
| Jul-2023 | 83.4% |
| Aug-2023 | 83.5% |
| Sep-2023 | 83.5% |
| Oct-2023 | 83.4% |
| Nov-2023 | 83.4% |
| Dec-2023 | 83.2% |
| Jan-2024 | 83.3% |
| Feb-2024 | 83.5% |
| Mar-2024 | 83.4% |
| Apr-2024 | 83.5% |
| May-2024 | 83.6% |
| Jun-2024 | 83.7% |
| Jul-2024 | 83.9% |
| Aug-2024 | 83.9% |
| Sep-2024 | 83.8% |
| Oct-2024 | 83.5% |
| Nov-2024 | 83.5% |
| Dec-2024 | 83.4% |
| Jan-2025 | 83.5% |
| Feb-2025 | 83.5% |
| Mar-2025 | 83.3% |
| Apr-2025 | 83.6% |
| May-2025 | 83.4% |
| Jun-2025 | 83.5% |
| Jul-2025 | 83.4% |
| Aug-2025 | 83.7 |
Note: The shaded areas represent months when the overall unemployment rate exceeded 5%.
Source: Data from Current Population Survey (CPS) data tools from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
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