I Had No Idea!

I've heard for years about the declining rate of workforce participation. In other words, how many able bodied men and women are out of the workforce and not seeking a job.

This chart appeared in Bloomberg News and portrays the percent of able bodied men who are in the workforce.

1948 would be my father's early working years. Ninety-Eight percent of men were working then. Less than 90 percent are now.

A declining participation rate means lower than potential productivity which means lower than potential wealth in the country. Or, so I think.