Workers Are Coming off the Sidelines

U.S. workers are back on the job in more ways than one.

Not only has the economy recovered most of the jobs it lost when the pandemic hit, but more people are joining the workforce. The labor force participation rate—that is, how many people 16 and older are either working or actively looking for it—edged up to 62.4% in March from 62.3% in February, and has been steadily improving for several months, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As the chart below shows, the rate plummeted to 60.2% from 63.4% when the pandemic hit in 2020 and, after an initial recovery, more or less stalled out until last fall. 

With pandemic-era government aid gone, consumer prices increasing, plenty of jobs to apply for, and rising wages making the positions more lucrative, working is looking like a better option for a lot of people these days, economists said. 

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