Story perspectives

U.S. Labor Force Hits Record 105.8 M, Participation Falls to 59%

7/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. noninstitutionalized labor force (NILF) hit a record 105.8 million in June after 832,000 workers left, pushing participation to 59 %, the lowest since September 2021.
AEI economist Nicholas Eberstadt said about 7 million prime-age men and 3.5 million women are exiting the workforce.
He warned basic income could raise dropouts and blamed the fragmented disability-program system for gaps that let many fall through the cracks, unlike Europe and Japan, citing AI-driven job loss.

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Story summary

The U.S. noninstitutionalized labor force (NILF) hit a record 105.8 million in June after 832,000 workers left, pushing participation to 59 %, the lowest since September 2021.
AEI economist Nicholas Eberstadt said about 7 million prime-age men and 3.5 million women are exiting the workforce.
He warned basic income could raise dropouts and blamed the fragmented disability-program system for gaps that let many fall through the cracks, unlike Europe and Japan, citing AI-driven job loss.