There is a three stage process for the labor market to return to normal, or at least normal dynamics. First jobs become more plentiful, then wages start to rise, and third individuals begin searching for jobs at higher rates. As such, Oregon’s labor force participation rate has increased from its recessionary lows reached in 2012 and 2013. While the majority of the decline in participation over the past 15 years is demographic – the aging Baby Boomers are entering their retirement years – some of the decline is due to the lackluster economy in recent years. Along with an improving economy will come labor force gains and some participation increases.
Even as participation rates and employment opportunities are rising, these gains are not evenly distributed across the economy or individuals. In fact, there are stark differences across generations and their labor market outcomes today.
The employment-population ratio, EPOP for short, measures the share of individuals for a certain age group that has a job. Those in their mid-20s through mid-30s have fully recovered in terms of their employment rate. That is, the share of 25-34 year olds with a job today is the same as back in 2007, prior to the start of the Great Recession.
Middle-age workers, however, have considerably lower employment rates today. This is certainly a cause for concern. To the extent that these lower employment rates reflect the impact of long-term unemployment, or industrial or geographic mismatches, these losses may be permanent, thus lowering the productive capacity of the regional economy. Middle-age individuals have seen a decline in their participation rates, and a corresponding increase in discouraged workers, those saying they are injured, disabled and/or ill and also an increase in retirements. The latter two of these reasons for not being in the labor force possibly point toward a more permanent decline than other reasons given, such as enrolling in college, staying at home to take care of children and the like. The former reason indicates that in a stronger economy — which we are getting to — such individuals are more likely to return to the labor market.
Finally, older individuals are working at higher rates than seen in the recent past. The share of Oregonians 60 years and older with a job is higher today than in 2007, or even back in 2000. This likely reflects two important trends. The first is the overall shift in the type of jobs in the economy today. There is considerably more office and office-type work today than in previous generations, thus making it physically easier to work longer. The second trend is less benign. Some individuals are working later in life for financial reasons such as inadequate savings or retirement accounts.
Mark McMullen
Josh Lehner
Oregon Office of Economic Analysis 
[…] In the past our office has highlighted the fact that Oregonians, and Americans, are working later for both good and bad reasons. Along these lines I wanted to highlight some work that ECONorthwest’s Dr. Kevin Cahill has done in recent years (see here, e.g.) Among the topics he discusses are the number of pro-work changes that have happened in the past generation or so. Some, like the increased social security retirement age, lower savings and private pensions moving to defined contribution, mean older Americans are more exposed to macroeconomic fluctuations than previous generations and as a result need to work later in life. Others, like higher levels of educational attainment, improved health and less physically demanding jobs, allow individuals to work later in life if they choose to. While such changes impact individuals and their want or need to work, employers also face challenges and opportunities with older workers too. […]
By: Retiring Oregonians | Oregon Office of Economic Analysis on December 8, 2016
at 10:49 AM
[…] In the past our office has highlighted the fact that Oregonians, and Americans, are working later for both good and bad reasons. Along these lines I wanted to highlight some work that ECONorthwest’s Dr. Kevin Cahill has done in recent years (see here, e.g.) Among the topics he discusses are the number of pro-work changes that have happened in the past generation or so. Some, like the increased social security retirement age, lower savings and private pensions moving to defined contribution, mean older Americans are more exposed to macroeconomic fluctuations than previous generations and as a result need to work later in life. Others, like higher levels of educational attainment, improved health and less physically demanding jobs, allow individuals to work later in life if they choose to. While such changes impact individuals and their want or need to work, employers also face challenges and opportunities with older workers too. UPDATE: In the comments Bill mentions health care costs as a big impact too, which is a great point and true! […]
By: Retiring Oregonians | Oregon Office of Economic Analysis on December 9, 2016
at 12:50 PM
[…] returned to where it was prior to the Great Recession. This is good news, particularly since the last time we took a look at employment rates by age there were a few missing pieces. Specifically, what we saw were lower employment rates for […]
By: Oregon EPOP by Age | Oregon Office of Economic Analysis on April 27, 2017
at 9:44 AM
[…] returned to where it was prior to the Great Recession. This is good news, particularly since the last time we took a look at employment rates by age there were a few missing pieces. Specifically, what we saw were lower employment rates for […]
By: Oregon EPOP by Age | eClips on April 28, 2017
at 7:21 PM
[…] among older Americans and Oregonians is a good development. As we’ve previously discussed (HERE, HERE) there are a number of factors at play. (This also borrows from ECONorthwest’s Dr. […]
By: Retirements are Coming | Oregon Office of Economic Analysis on January 10, 2019
at 10:01 AM