Labor Force Participation

Vocabulary flashcards on labor force participation, rates, and demographics.

Labor Force Participation Rate

Percentage of the total adult population that is in the labor force.

Labor Force

Unemployed + Employed

Labor Force Participation Rate Formula

(Labor force / Adult population) × 100

Labor Force Participation Trend (Men)

Decreased over several decades.

Labor Force Participation Trend (Women)

Increased over several decades.

1950 Labor Force Participation Difference (Men vs. Women)

33% of women working or looking for work vs. 87% of men working or looking for work.

Today Labor Force Participation Difference (Men vs. Women)

59% of women working or looking for work vs. 72% of men working or looking for work.

Reasons for Increased Female Labor Force Participation

New technologies reducing household task time, improved birth control, and changing political and social attitudes.

Reasons for Decreased Male Labor Force Participation

Young men staying in school longer, older men retiring earlier and living longer, and more fathers staying home to raise children.

Groups Counted as Being Out of the Labor Force

Full-time students, retirees, and stay-at-home dads.

Labor-market experiences of Women ages 20 and older

Lower rates of labor-force participation than men, but similar rates of unemployment once in the labor force.

Labor-market experiences of Blacks ages 20 and older

Similar rates of labor-force participation as whites, but much higher rates of unemployment.

Labor-market experiences of Teenagers

Lower rates of labor-force participation and much higher rates of unemployment than older workers.