Figure 1. Labor force participation rate, 16 years and older, seasonally adjusted, 1948‒2016
Year Labor force participation rate  

1948

58.6  

1948

58.9  

1948

58.5  

1948

59.0  

1948

58.3  

1948

59.2  

1948

59.3  

1948

58.9  

1948

58.9  

1948

58.7  

1948

58.7  

1948

59.1  

1949

58.7  

1949

59.0  

1949

58.9  

1949

58.8  

1949

59.0  

1949

58.6  

1949

58.9  

1949

59.2  

1949

59.1  

1949

59.6  

1949

59.4  

1949

59.2  

1950

58.9  

1950

58.9  

1950

58.8  

1950

59.2  

1950

59.1  

1950

59.4  

1950

59.1  

1950

59.5  

1950

59.2  

1950

59.4  

1950

59.3  

1950

59.2  

1951

59.1  

1951

59.1  

1951

59.8  

1951

59.1  

1951

59.4  

1951

59.0  

1951

59.4  

1951

59.2  

1951

59.1  

1951

59.4  

1951

59.2  

1951

59.6  

1952

59.5  

1952

59.5  

1952

58.9  

1952

58.8  

1952

59.1  

1952

59.1  

1952

58.9  

1952

58.7  

1952

59.2  

1952

58.7  

1952

59.1  

1952

59.2  

1953

59.5  

1953

59.5  

1953

59.6  

1953

59.1  

1953

58.6  

1953

58.9  

1953

58.9  

1953

58.6  

1953

58.5  

1953

58.5  

1953

58.6  

1953

58.3  

1954

58.6  

1954

59.3  

1954

59.1  

1954

59.2  

1954

58.9  

1954

58.5  

1954

58.4  

1954

58.7  

1954

59.2  

1954

58.8  

1954

58.6  

1954

58.1  

1955

58.6  

1955

58.4  

1955

58.5  

1955

59.0  

1955

58.8  

1955

58.8  

1955

59.3  

1955

59.7  

1955

59.7  

1955

59.8  

1955

59.9  

1955

60.2  

1956

60.2  

1956

59.9  

1956

59.8  

1956

59.9  

1956

60.2  

1956

60.1  

1956

60.1  

1956

60.0  

1956

60.0  

1956

59.8  

1956

59.8  

1956

59.8  

1957

59.5  

1957

59.9  

1957

59.8  

1957

59.5  

1957

59.5  

1957

59.8  

1957

60.0  

1957

59.3  

1957

59.6  

1957

59.5  

1957

59.5  

1957

59.6  

1958

59.3  

1958

59.3  

1958

59.3  

1958

59.6  

1958

59.8  

1958

59.5  

1958

59.6  

1958

59.8  

1958

59.7  

1958

59.6  

1958

59.2  

1958

59.2  

1959

59.3  

1959

59.0  

1959

59.3  

1959

59.4  

1959

59.2  

1959

59.2  

1959

59.4  

1959

59.2  

1959

59.3  

1959

59.4  

1959

59.1  

1959

59.5  

1960

59.1  

1960

59.1  

1960

58.5  

1960

59.5  

1960

59.5  

1960

59.7  

1960

59.5  

1960

59.5  

1960

59.7  

1960

59.4  

1960

59.8  

1960

59.7  

1961

59.6  

1961

59.6  

1961

59.7  

1961

59.3  

1961

59.4  

1961

59.7  

1961

59.3  

1961

59.3  

1961

59.0  

1961

59.1  

1961

59.1  

1961

58.8  

1962

58.8  

1962

59.0  

1962

58.9  

1962

58.7  

1962

58.9  

1962

58.8  

1962

58.5  

1962

59.0  

1962

59.0  

1962

58.7  

1962

58.5  

1962

58.4  

1963

58.6  

1963

58.6  

1963

58.6  

1963

58.8  

1963

58.8  

1963

58.5  

1963

58.7  

1963

58.5  

1963

58.7  

1963

58.8  

1963

58.8  

1963

58.5  

1964

58.6  

1964

58.8  

1964

58.7  

1964

59.1  

1964

59.1  

1964

58.7  

1964

58.6  

1964

58.6  

1964

58.7  

1964

58.6  

1964

58.5  

1964

58.6  

1965

58.6  

1965

58.7  

1965

58.7  

1965

58.8  

1965

59.0  

1965

58.8  

1965

59.1  

1965

58.9  

1965

58.7  

1965

58.9  

1965

58.8  

1965

59.0  

1966

59.0  

1966

58.8  

1966

58.8  

1966

59.0  

1966

59.0  

1966

59.1  

1966

59.1  

1966

59.3  

1966

59.3  

1966

59.3  

1966

59.6  

1966

59.5  

1967

59.5  

1967

59.3  

1967

59.1  

1967

59.4  

1967

59.3  

1967

59.6  

1967

59.6  

1967

59.7  

1967

59.7  

1967

59.9  

1967

59.8  

1967

59.9  

1968

59.2  

1968

59.6  

1968

59.6  

1968

59.5  

1968

59.9  

1968

60.0  

1968

59.8  

1968

59.6  

1968

59.5  

1968

59.5  

1968

59.6  

1968

59.7  

1969

59.6  

1969

60.0  

1969

59.9  

1969

60.0  

1969

59.8  

1969

60.1  

1969

60.1  

1969

60.3  

1969

60.3  

1969

60.4  

1969

60.2  

1969

60.2  

1970

60.4  

1970

60.4  

1970

60.6  

1970

60.6  

1970

60.3  

1970

60.2  

1970

60.4  

1970

60.3  

1970

60.2  

1970

60.4  

1970

60.4  

1970

60.4  

1971

60.4  

1971

60.1  

1971

60.0  

1971

60.1  

1971

60.2  

1971

59.8  

1971

60.1  

1971

60.2  

1971

60.1  

1971

60.1  

1971

60.4  

1971

60.4  

1972

60.2  

1972

60.2  

1972

60.5  

1972

60.4  

1972

60.4  

1972

60.4  

1972

60.4  

1972

60.6  

1972

60.4  

1972

60.3  

1972

60.3  

1972

60.5  

1973

60.0  

1973

60.5  

1973

60.8  

1973

60.8  

1973

60.6  

1973

60.9  

1973

60.9  

1973

60.7  

1973

60.8  

1973

60.9  

1973

61.2  

1973

61.2  

1974

61.3  

1974

61.4  

1974

61.3  

1974

61.1  

1974

61.2  

1974

61.2  

1974

61.4  

1974

61.2  

1974

61.4  

1974

61.3  

1974

61.3  

1974

61.2  

1975

61.4  

1975

61.0  

1975

61.2  

1975

61.3  

1975

61.5  

1975

61.2  

1975

61.3  

1975

61.3  

1975

61.2  

1975

61.2  

1975

61.1  

1975

61.1  

1976

61.3  

1976

61.3  

1976

61.3  

1976

61.6  

1976

61.5  

1976

61.5  

1976

61.8  

1976

61.8  

1976

61.6  

1976

61.6  

1976

61.9  

1976

61.8  

1977

61.6  

1977

61.9  

1977

62.0  

1977

62.1  

1977

62.2  

1977

62.4  

1977

62.1  

1977

62.3  

1977

62.3  

1977

62.4  

1977

62.8  

1977

62.7  

1978

62.8  

1978

62.7  

1978

62.8  

1978

63.0  

1978

63.1  

1978

63.3  

1978

63.2  

1978

63.2  

1978

63.3  

1978

63.3  

1978

63.5  

1978

63.6  

1979

63.6  

1979

63.8  

1979

63.8  

1979

63.5  

1979

63.3  

1979

63.5  

1979

63.6  

1979

63.6  

1979

63.8  

1979

63.7  

1979

63.7  

1979

63.9  

1980

64.0  

1980

64.0  

1980

63.7  

1980

63.8  

1980

63.9  

1980

63.7  

1980

63.8  

1980

63.7  

1980

63.6  

1980

63.7  

1980

63.8  

1980

63.6  

1981

63.9  

1981

63.9  

1981

64.1  

1981

64.2  

1981

64.3  

1981

63.7  

1981

63.8  

1981

63.8  

1981

63.5  

1981

63.8  

1981

63.9  

1981

63.6  

1982

63.7  

1982

63.8  

1982

63.8  

1982

63.9  

1982

64.2  

1982

63.9  

1982

64.0  

1982

64.1  

1982

64.1  

1982

64.1  

1982

64.2  

1982

64.1  

1983

63.9  

1983

63.8  

1983

63.7  

1983

63.8  

1983

63.7  

1983

64.3  

1983

64.1  

1983

64.3  

1983

64.3  

1983

64.0  

1983

64.1  

1983

64.1  

1984

63.9  

1984

64.1  

1984

64.1  

1984

64.3  

1984

64.5  

1984

64.6  

1984

64.6  

1984

64.4  

1984

64.4  

1984

64.4  

1984

64.5  

1984

64.6  

1985

64.7  

1985

64.7  

1985

64.9  

1985

64.9  

1985

64.8  

1985

64.6  

1985

64.7  

1985

64.6  

1985

64.9  

1985

65.0  

1985

64.9  

1985

65.0  

1986

64.9  

1986

65.0  

1986

65.1  

1986

65.1  

1986

65.2  

1986

65.4  

1986

65.4  

1986

65.3  

1986

65.4  

1986

65.4  

1986

65.4  

1986

65.3  

1987

65.4  

1987

65.5  

1987

65.5  

1987

65.4  

1987

65.7  

1987

65.5  

1987

65.6  

1987

65.7  

1987

65.5  

1987

65.7  

1987

65.7  

1987

65.7  

1988

65.8  

1988

65.9  

1988

65.7  

1988

65.8  

1988

65.7  

1988

65.8  

1988

65.9  

1988

66.1  

1988

65.9  

1988

66  

1988

66.2  

1988

66.1  

1989

66.5  

1989

66.3  

1989

66.3  

1989

66.4  

1989

66.3  

1989

66.5  

1989

66.5  

1989

66.5  

1989

66.4  

1989

66.5  

1989

66.6  

1989

66.5  

1990

66.8  

1990

66.7  

1990

66.7  

1990

66.6  

1990

66.6  

1990

66.4  

1990

66.5  

1990

66.5  

1990

66.4  

1990

66.4  

1990

66.4  

1990

66.4  

1991

66.2  

1991

66.2  

1991

66.3  

1991

66.4  

1991

66.2  

1991

66.2  

1991

66.1  

1991

66.0  

1991

66.2  

1991

66.1  

1991

66.1  

1991

66.0  

1992

66.3  

1992

66.2  

1992

66.4  

1992

66.5  

1992

66.6  

1992

66.7  

1992

66.7  

1992

66.6  

1992

66.5  

1992

66.2  

1992

66.3  

1992

66.3  

1993

66.2  

1993

66.2  

1993

66.2  

1993

66.1  

1993

66.4  

1993

66.5  

1993

66.4  

1993

66.4  

1993

66.2  

1993

66.3  

1993

66.3  

1993

66.4  

1994

66.6  

1994

66.6  

1994

66.5  

1994

66.5  

1994

66.6  

1994

66.4  

1994

66.4  

1994

66.6  

1994

66.6  

1994

66.7  

1994

66.7  

1994

66.7  

1995

66.8  

1995

66.8  

1995

66.7  

1995

66.9  

1995

66.5  

1995

66.5  

1995

66.6  

1995

66.6  

1995

66.6  

1995

66.6  

1995

66.5  

1995

66.4  

1996

66.4  

1996

66.6  

1996

66.6  

1996

66.7  

1996

66.7  

1996

66.7  

1996

66.9  

1996

66.7  

1996

66.9  

1996

67.0  

1996

67.0  

1996

67.0  

1997

67.0  

1997

66.9  

1997

67.1  

1997

67.1  

1997

67.1  

1997

67.1  

1997

67.2  

1997

67.2  

1997

67.1  

1997

67.1  

1997

67.2  

1997

67.2  

1998

67.1  

1998

67.1  

1998

67.1  

1998

67.0  

1998

67.0  

1998

67.0  

1998

67.0  

1998

67.0  

1998

67.2  

1998

67.2  

1998

67.1  

1998

67.2  

1999

67.2  

1999

67.2  

1999

67.0  

1999

67.1  

1999

67.1  

1999

67.1  

1999

67.1  

1999

67.0  

1999

67.0  

1999

67.0  

1999

67.1  

1999

67.1  

2000

67.3  

2000

67.3  

2000

67.3  

2000

67.3  

2000

67.1  

2000

67.1  

2000

66.9  

2000

66.9  

2000

66.9  

2000

66.8  

2000

66.9  

2000

67.0  

2001

67.2  

2001

67.1  

2001

67.2  

2001

66.9  

2001

66.7  

2001

66.7  

2001

66.8  

2001

66.5  

2001

66.8  

2001

66.7  

2001

66.7  

2001

66.7  

2002

66.5  

2002

66.8  

2002

66.6  

2002

66.7  

2002

66.7  

2002

66.6  

2002

66.5  

2002

66.6  

2002

66.7  

2002

66.6  

2002

66.4  

2002

66.3  

2003

66.4  

2003

66.4  

2003

66.3  

2003

66.4  

2003

66.4  

2003

66.5  

2003

66.2  

2003

66.1  

2003

66.1  

2003

66.1  

2003

66.1  

2003

65.9  

2004

66.1  

2004

66.0  

2004

66.0  

2004

65.9  

2004

66.0  

2004

66.1  

2004

66.1  

2004

66.0  

2004

65.8  

2004

65.9  

2004

66.0  

2004

65.9  

2005

65.8  

2005

65.9  

2005

65.9  

2005

66.1  

2005

66.1  

2005

66.1  

2005

66.1  

2005

66.2  

2005

66.1  

2005

66.1  

2005

66.0  

2005

66.0  

2006

66.0  

2006

66.1  

2006

66.2  

2006

66.1  

2006

66.1  

2006

66.2  

2006

66.1  

2006

66.2  

2006

66.1  

2006

66.2  

2006

66.3  

2006

66.4  

2007

66.4  

2007

66.3  

2007

66.2  

2007

65.9  

2007

66.0  

2007

66.0  

2007

66.0  

2007

65.8  

2007

66.0  

2007

65.8  

2007

66.0  

2007

66.0  

2008

66.2  

2008

66  

2008

66.1  

2008

65.9  

2008

66.1  

2008

66.1  

2008

66.1  

2008

66.1  

2008

66.0  

2008

66.0  

2008

65.9  

2008

65.8  

2009

65.7  

2009

65.8  

2009

65.6  

2009

65.7  

2009

65.7  

2009

65.7  

2009

65.5  

2009

65.4  

2009

65.1  

2009

65.0  

2009

65.0  

2009

64.6  

2010

64.8  

2010

64.9  

2010

64.9  

2010

65.2  

2010

64.9  

2010

64.6  

2010

64.6  

2010

64.7  

2010

64.6  

2010

64.4  

2010

64.6  

2010

64.3  

2011

64.2  

2011

64.1  

2011

64.2  

2011

64.2  

2011

64.1  

2011

64.0  

2011

64.0  

2011

64.1  

2011

64.2  

2011

64.1  

2011

64.1  

2011

64.0  

2012

63.7  

2012

63.8  

2012

63.8  

2012

63.7  

2012

63.7  

2012

63.8  

2012

63.7  

2012

63.5  

2012

63.7  

2012

63.8  

2012

63.6  

2012

63.7  

2013

63.6  

2013

63.4  

2013

63.3  

2013

63.4  

2013

63.4  

2013

63.4  

2013

63.3  

2013

63.2  

2013

63.3  

2013

62.8  

2013

63.0  

2013

62.9  

2014

62.9  

2014

63.0  

2014

63.2  

2014

62.8  

2014

62.8  

2014

62.8  

2014

62.9  

2014

62.9  

2014

62.8  

2014

62.9  

2014

62.9  

2014

62.7  

2015

62.9  

2015

62.8  

2015

62.7  

2015

62.7  

2015

62.8  

2015

62.6  

2015

62.6  

2015

62.6  

2015

62.4  

2015

62.5  

2015

62.5  

2015

62.6  

2016

62.7  

2016

62.9  

2016

63.0  

2016

62.8  

2016

62.6  

2016

62.7  

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey.