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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