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The Labor Force Participation Rate Is Now At A 35-Year Low

Steven PerlbergSep 6, 2013, 21:35 IST

This morning's August jobs report brought us news that, once again, labor force participation dropped.

The rate fell to 63.2% from 63.4% the month before. That's the lowest since August 1978. So as the unemployment rate steadily drops, it's important to keep labor force participation - arguably a better indicator of real employment - in mind. What good is a decreasing unemployment rate (now at 7.3% from 7.4% last month) if it's a result of a mass exodus from the labor force?

Here's the chart.

FRED