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Forum » Labor force participation rate falls to lowest in 50 years, outside of Covid era
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Thread: Labor force participation rate falls to lowest in 50 years, outside of Covid era

post 10000242373 07-03-2026, 01:11 PM
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Labor force participation rate falls to lowest in 50 years, outside of Covid era

On the surface, a June drop in the unemployment rate helped provide some upside to what was an otherwise downbeat jobs report — but it was for all the wrong reasons.That’s because the decline in the jobless level to 4.2%, the lowest in a year, came largely from an exodus of workers from the labor force, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data Thursday.

In fact, the measure of the working-age population either employed or looking for a job slid to 61.5%, the lowest since March 2021. Excluding the Covid-era jobs market, it was the lowest labor force participation rate in exactly 50 years.

The decline in the labor force marks a “massive exodus” driven by multiple factors, said Mike Reid, head of U.S. economics at RBC.

“The unemployment rate fell to 4.2% as both the number of unemployed workers and the size of the labor force pulled back,” Reid wrote in a post-report commentary. “This may well be a story of retirements but could also be a story of prior job seekers dropping out of the labor force.”




https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/02/job-seekers-giving-up-labor-force-participation-rate-falls-to-lowest-in-50-years-outside-of-covid-era.html
post 10000242389 07-03-2026, 01:18 PM
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I saw this yesterday, and not sure what to make of it. Likely a lot of people in their 50s deciding to retire.

This was bound to happen after a COVID spike though, and it's necessary to actually have a functioning job market. Hopefully it's short term.
post 10000242393 07-03-2026, 01:21 PM
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post 10000242403 07-03-2026, 01:24 PM
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post 10000242405 07-03-2026, 01:25 PM
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The number of people not working is crazy. I wonder how long this is sustainable
post 10000242416 07-03-2026, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted By r32gojirra⏩
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You owe nothing to a system that borrows against your existence to fund your demise.Fuck the employim and their goyim.
post 10000242426 07-03-2026, 01:33 PM
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post 10000242438 07-03-2026, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted By TheParish⏩
The number of people not working is crazy. I wonder how long this is sustainable
Not working is the job if they are getting gov handouts.

Give people handouts paid for by tax payers so they can sit online and be the activists.

A pretty genius system to get people to unknowingly work for their true masters.
post 10000242439 07-03-2026, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted By BasedBagel⏩
NEETcels mogging
based
post 10000242441 07-03-2026, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted By TheParish⏩
The number of people not working is crazy. I wonder how long this is sustainable
Very long if people have savings and living at home.
post 10000242444 07-03-2026, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted By JeepBruh⏩
Not working is the job if they are getting gov handouts.

Give people handouts paid for by tax payers so they can sit online and be the activists.

A pretty genius system to get people to unknowingly work for their true masters.
Welfaremaxxing has been a thing for years. Have a few kids with some sloot, move in with her without letting government know, Do a cash only job
post 10000242454 07-03-2026, 01:58 PM
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The numbers are volatile, and anything the BLS puts out is untrustworthy.

Low labor force participation is being blamed on retirements and the crackdown on immigration.

All sectors of the economy looked to add jobs outside of the financial sector, which is getting raw dogged, because the housing market is frozen.

Ironically, FIRE is the largest portion of GDP, in regards to output. If it wasn't for this data center boom there wouldn't be any growth in America.


https://wolfstreet.com/2026/07/02/labor-market-tightens-despite-tepid-job-growth-as-labor-force-declines-further-amid-crackdown-on-illegal-immigration/
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post 10000242459 07-03-2026, 02:03 PM
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Originally Posted By OPGenesis⏩
The numbers are volatile, and anything the BLS puts out is untrustworthy.

Low labor force participation is being blamed on retirements and the crackdown on immigration.


https://wolfstreet.com/2026/07/02/labor-market-tightens-despite-tepid-job-growth-as-labor-force-declines-further-amid-crackdown-on-illegal-immigration/
Yeah, the unemployment rate actually decreased from 4.3% to 4.2%, so this is entirely people dropping out of the labor force. The data for this type of stuff is pure crap nowadays though, with gig work and a big change in how formal employment is monitored. It seems like the economy is generally doing quite well, although most spending is still driven by upper middle class and above.

I think this is all just a fundamental change in the labor market combined with a lot of people who are working under the table.
post 10000242461 07-03-2026, 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted By OliverHeldens⏩
Yeah, the unemployment rate actually decreased from 4.3% to 4.2%, so this is entirely people dropping out of the labor force. The data for this type of stuff is pure crap nowadays though, with gig work and a big change in how formal employment is monitored. It seems like the economy is generally doing quite well, although most spending is still driven by upper middle class and above.
50% of consumption is driven by the top 10%. K-shaped economy.

Consumption is the main driver of GDP.

Everybody else doesn't really count in the statistics.
"I am a rational animal who occupies the intermediary position between angel and beast"

"The upper class is afforded their position by the collective burden the underclass must carry for them"


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post 10000242468 07-03-2026, 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted By OPGenesis⏩
50% of consumption is driven by the top 10%. K-shaped economy.

Everybody else doesn't really count in the statistics.
Yep, so what's actually happening is the upper 10% have most of the discretionary income combined wtih retired boomers spending a ton as well. Then all of the people below had their costs go up 200% since covid so although they have money, most of it is going toward expenses.

We'll see what happens, I'm not exactly sure how this ends. But credit is still widely available, and lack of liquidity is usually what causes an actual downturn. So I'm thinking we stay in this current pattern for at least a couple more years.
post 10000242470 07-03-2026, 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted By OPGenesis⏩
50% of consumption is driven by the top 10%. K-shaped economy.

Consumption is the main driver of GDP.

Everybody else doesn't really count in the statistics.
Conversely, top 1% pays almost 40% of taxes. Top 10% pay close to 70% of taxes. Top 50% pay about 98% of taxes.

The bottom 50% tax payers don't really matter from a revenue perspective, but get to vote and put us more in debt.
post 10000242473 07-03-2026, 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted By OliverHeldens⏩
Yep, so what's actually happening is the upper 10% have most of the discretionary income combined wtih retired boomers spending a ton as well. Then all of the people below had their costs go up 200% since covid so although they have money, most of it is going toward expenses.

We'll see what happens, I'm not exactly sure how this ends. But credit is still widely available, and lack of liquidity is usually what causes an actual downturn. So I'm thinking we stay in this current pattern for at least a couple more years.
They'll just continue to add to the money supply and inflate.

The Fed ended QT and went back to easing.
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post 10000242480 07-03-2026, 02:11 PM
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Originally Posted By JeepBruh⏩
Conversely, top 1% pays almost 40% of taxes. Top 10% pay close to 70% of taxes. Top 50% pay about 98% of taxes.

The bottom 50% tax payers don't really matter from a revenue perspective, but get to vote and put us more in debt.
That's in regard to labor lmao.

The real elite pay no taxes, because they don't work for a salary. They operate in the financial economy. These are all the people who hold all the real wealth.

The people that get fucked are the upper middle class.

The ultra wealthy and the extreme poor don't pay taxes.
"I am a rational animal who occupies the intermediary position between angel and beast"

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post 10000242485 07-03-2026, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted By OPGenesis⏩
They'll just continue to add to the money supply and inflate.

The Fed ended QT and went back to easing.
The M2 money supply is expanding at a similar rate to before QE though, and they are not specifically buying bonds to hold down interest rates anymore. I do think we're going to see a drop in interest rates over the next 2 months(especially when gas prices finally reflect oil prices) and that is reflected in the inflation data. That will be a nice tailwind for what seems like an already accelerating situation.
post 10000242487 07-03-2026, 02:15 PM
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People are generally just giving up. Things like home ownership aren't feasible, people are living on credit just to get by, and they aren't even having kids anymore. Except of course for the bottom feeders already getting government assistance.

If you're only going to barely get by with two people making 50-60k a year, it's almost impossible to have the basic things people took for granted ten years ago. A decent place to live, a used car, maybe one basic family trip a year. School costs a fortune if you want to try to upgrade. And people are realizing that companies literally don't GAF and will lay you off without a second thought.

Even making $25 an hour - which used to be decent - that's 52k a year or about 3000 a month after taxes. Unless you share expenses or have a roommate, you literally can't live in any major city.
post 10000242492 07-03-2026, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted By OPGenesis⏩
That's in regard to labor lmao.

The real elite pay no taxes, because they don't work for a salary. They operate in the financial economy.

The people that get fucked are the upper middle class.

The ultra wealthy and the extreme poor don't pay taxes.
They do pay taxes though. Again, top 1% account for about 40% of tax revenue. IRS data shows this. Unless there is a "real elite" criteria differentiator that you are aware of that I am not.

Not trying to be snarky, just would like for you to explain that a little better and give an example if possible.
post 10000242494 07-03-2026, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted By OliverHeldens⏩
The M2 money supply is expanding at a similar rate to before QE though, and they are not specifically buying bonds to hold down interest rates anymore. I do think we're going to see a drop in interest rates over the next 2 months(especially when gas prices finally reflect oil prices) and that is reflected in the inflation data. That will be a nice tailwind for what seems like an already accelerating situation.
The Fed has been doing targeted Treasury bills.
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post 10000242497 07-03-2026, 02:17 PM
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post 10000242507 07-03-2026, 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted By WoofieNugget⏩
People are generally just giving up. Things like home ownership aren't feasible, people are living on credit just to get by, and they aren't even having kids anymore. Except of course for the bottom feeders already getting government assistance.

If you're only going to barely get by with two people making 50-60k a year, it's almost impossible to have the basic things people took for granted ten years ago. A decent place to live, a used car, maybe one basic family trip a year. School costs a fortune if you want to try to upgrade. And people are realizing that companies literally don't GAF and will lay you off without a second thought.

Even making $20 an hour - which used to be decent - that's 52k a year or about 3000 a month after taxes. Unless you share expenses or have a roommate, you literally can't live in any major city.
A good portion of those people also cried for covid shutdowns and stimmy checks, thereby contributing to inflation. They also turned around and voted for a party that enabled mass illegal immigration, which drove up housing costs and lowered wages.

They complain about the problems they face, not realizing it was largely of their own making.
post 10000242510 07-03-2026, 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted By WoofieNugget⏩
People are generally just giving up. Things like home ownership aren't feasible, people are living on credit just to get by, and they aren't even having kids anymore. Except of course for the bottom feeders already getting government assistance.

If you're only going to barely get by with two people making 50-60k a year, it's almost impossible to have the basic things people took for granted ten years ago. A decent place to live, a used car, maybe one basic family trip a year. School costs a fortune if you want to try to upgrade. And people are realizing that companies literally don't GAF and will lay you off without a second thought.

Even making $20 an hour - which used to be decent - that's 52k a year or about 3000 a month after taxes. Unless you share expenses or have a roommate, you literally can't live in any major city.
$20/hr is 40k, like 2400 after tax Unless you’re doing OT
post 10000242518 07-03-2026, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted By JeepBruh⏩
They do pay taxes though. Again, top 1% account for about 40% of tax revenue. IRS data shows this. Unless there is a "real elite" criteria differentiator that you are aware of that I am not.

Not trying to be snarky, just would like for you to explain that a little better and give an example if possible.
You don't understand the way the economy works.

But, in short there are two different economies.

The productive economy, where people pay taxes, which are based off labor. And the financial economy, where people don't pay taxes, which is based on assets.

This is why it's been proposed to implement a tax on assets, because the value of the financial economy dwarfs the productive economy in dollar value.

That is why all the people at the top want to be compensated in stocks, options and other securities.

It's also why the US is always running massive budget deficits.

You need to learn to differentiate income tax and wealth.
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post 10000242520 07-03-2026, 02:25 PM
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post 10000242522 07-03-2026, 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted By TheParish⏩
The number of people not working is crazy. I wonder how long this is sustainable
The number of people actually buying into the slave wage program is what is crazy. It is unsustainable and will absolutely collapse.
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post 10000242525 07-03-2026, 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted By OliverHeldens⏩
I saw this yesterday, and not sure what to make of it. Likely a lot of people in their 50s deciding to retire.

This was bound to happen after a COVID spike though, and it's necessary to actually have a functioning job market. Hopefully it's short term.
I think it’s a lot of young men realizing the juice ain’t worth the squeeze
post 10000242528 07-03-2026, 02:29 PM
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