Catherwood LibraryILR School

The Bureau of Labor Statistics show that in April 2014, the labor force participation rate for the age group 25-29 hit 79.8% its lowest level since 1982. Even in 1982 that age group?s labor force participation rate was 80.7%. Similarly, the number of 25-29 year olds who are not participating in the labor force in 1982 was 3,851,000 and has risen 11% to an all-time high last month with more than 4,280,000. The labor force participation rate includes people who are working, looking for work, or engaged in institutional activities (such as going to college) and so the increasing number truly reflects the increasing number of young people in America without work and not looking for better prospects.