A closer look at the US participation rate

92 million Americans aren't in the labor force

The WSJ takes a closer took at the US participation rate and what it means. In general, they brush off most of the concerns about the lack of working age people who are working. They cite more time spent in school, people caring for kids, retirement and other factors.

This is a particularly interesting chart that shows the rise in the people on disability (almost 12% of people aged 51-55 who are out of the labor force) and those who want a job but aren't counted in the labor force for whatever reason.