Chapter 5. Projected Labor Force Trends

A source of strength of the U.S. economy is the ability to recognize and embrace change:  to transform challenges into opportunities.  This chapter presents two key dynamics that will affect the shape of the U.S. labor force in the first half of the 21st century:  an aging population and increasing racial and ethnic diversity.  Both factors are expected to coincide with a pronounced slowing in labor force growth.¹⁷  Another factor slowing labor force growth is the plateauing of women’s labor force participation.

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