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In 2019, the last of the baby boomers will reach age 55 and transition into age groups with much lower labor force participation rates. Due in large part to an aging population, the labor force participation rate for all workers (age 16 and over) is projected to decline to 61.0 percent in 2026.
Age group | 1996 | 2006 | 2016 | Projected 2026 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total, 16 years and older |
66.8% | 66.2% | 62.8% | 61.0% |
16 to 19 |
52.3 | 43.7 | 35.2 | 31.7 |
20 to 24 |
76.8 | 74.6 | 70.5 | 68.8 |
25 to 34 |
84.1 | 83.0 | 81.6 | 81.8 |
35 to 44 |
84.8 | 83.8 | 82.4 | 82.3 |
45 to 54 |
82.1 | 81.9 | 80.0 | 80.7 |
55 to 64 |
57.9 | 63.7 | 64.1 | 66.6 |
65 to 74 |
17.5 | 23.6 | 26.8 | 30.2 |
75 and older |
4.7 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 10.8 |
While participation rates for workers in the 25-to-54-year age groups were lower in 2016 than in 1996, participation rates projected for 2026 will be about the same for this group as they were in 2016. Among younger age groups, participation rates have steadily declined since 1996. The participation rate for workers in the 16-to-19-year age group is projected to be 31.7 percent in 2026, compared with 52.3 percent in 1996.
Since 1996, participation rates have steadily increased among the 65-years-and-older age groups. The participation rate for workers age 65 to 74 is projected to be 30.2 percent in 2026, compared with 17.5 percent in 1996. For workers age 75 and older, the participation rate in 2026 is projected to be 10.8 percent, compared with 4.7 percent in 1996.
These data are from the BLS Employment Projections program. For more information, see "Projections overview and highlights, 2016–26," by T. Alan Lacey, Mitra Toossi, Kevin S. Dubina, and Andrea B. Gensler, Monthly Labor Review.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Labor force participation rate for workers age 75 and older projected to be over 10 percent by 2026 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2019/labor-force-participation-rate-for-workers-age-75-and-older-projected-to-be-over-10-percent-by-2026.htm (visited February 19, 2025).