Monday January 21, 2013, 4:13 pm
(CNSNews.com) - The number of Americans age 16 or older who decided not to work or even to seek a job increased by 8,332,000 to a record 88,839,000 in President Barack Obama’s first term, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At the same time, the number of retired workers collecting Social Security increased by only 4,234,480.

The increase in Americans opting out of the labor force during Obama’s first term resulted in a decrease in the labor force participation rate from 65.7 percent in January 2009, the month Obama was first inaugurated, to 63.6 percent in December 2012, the latest month reported. Before Obama took office, the labor force participation rate had not been as low as 63.6 percent since 1981, the year President Ronald Reagan took over from President Jimmy Carter.

To be in the labor force a person must either have a job or actively sought one in the previous four weeks.

When Obama was inaugurated in January 2009, there were 80,507,000 American civilians age 16 or older who did not have a job or seek one. In December 2012, there were 88,839,000—thus, the increase of 8,332,000.

Also, in January 2009, there were 32,484,808 retired workers collecting Social Security benefits, according to the Social Security Administration. By December 2012 that had risen to 36,719,288, and increase of 4,234,480.

The increase in the number of Americans not participating in the labor force during Obama’s presidency outstripped the increase in the retired workers collecting Social Security by 4,097,520 persons.

In the comparable period of George W. Bush’s second term, the number of Americans choosing not to participate in the labor force went from 76,808,000 in January 2005 to 80,380,000 in December 2008—an increase of 3,572,000.

At the same time during Bush’s second term, the number of retired workers collecting Social Security rose from 30,086,392 to 32,273,145, and increase of 2,186,753. During this period, the increase in those not participating in the labor force outstripped the increase in retired workers collecting Social Security by only 1,385,247.

The rate of participation in the labor force was the same in January 2005 that it was in December 2008—65.8 percent.

In Bush’s first term, the number of Americans choosing not to participate in the labor force went from 70,088,000 in January 2001 to 76,581,000 in December 2004, an increase of 6,493,000. In January 2001, the labor force participation rate was 67.2 percent. In December 2004, it was 65.9 percent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has been tracking the labor force participation rate since 1948. Since then, the rate peaked at 67.3 percent, a level it maintained for the first four months of 2000.

Before President Obama took office, the labor force participation rate had not been as low as 63.6 percent since 1981, which was the year President Ronald Reagan took over from President Jimmy Carter.

Monday January 21, 2013, 4:30 pm
This man is way over his head. Because of his irresponsibility, inactivity, reliance on Bush's tax policies, we now have a President who does not have a damn clue to cure this economy.

Monday January 21, 2013, 4:33 pm
I think it's time that corporates stop outsourcing jobs and start hiring those in the U.S. ..after all they are who have reaped the huge benifits for the past 12 plus years. Time they stop relying on government to create jobs...that's their responsiblity not the governments too begin with. Government is to 'aid' businesses when in trouble..not create jobs for those overseas.

Monday January 21, 2013, 4:39 pm
Bush wasn't even concerned about the economy..thus he tanked it ...so now the GOP in Congress are stalling it's recovery Allan...and people want to complain , that Obama can't fix the economy...WTF ? That takes corporation which the GOP have refused to do for the past four years, while our debt rises and Corporates continue to outsource more jobs. Only bright spot apparently seeing that the GOP aren't concerned about the nations economy any more than Dubya/Cheney were is that in 2014 there will be a lot fewer GOP in Congress after that election.

Monday January 21, 2013, 6:45 pm
More chose school and college and staying in college as a part of the data reported here, as many analyses by those familiar with the methodology have reported in their articles.

Monday January 21, 2013, 7:07 pm
In that time period at least an extra 20,886,000 were added who had become age 16 during that time period. Added population from legal immigration or returning to the US would also be parts of this number based on the methodology. The college and graduate school enrollment increases keeping out of the labor force usually apply to at least age 26, but often older. Seems like the number should be higher.

Monday January 21, 2013, 7:45 pm
Data on the downward trend of dropping out of school at:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d11/tables/dt11_116.asp?referrer=report

Appropriate interpretation of the data summary at:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d11/

Monday January 21, 2013, 7:56 pm
Alan..I agree with you 100%!!!!

I think it's time that corporates stop outsourcing jobs and start hiring those in the U.S.

Jae..Then you better talk to Obama about that!!! The rest of what you said is completely WRONG!!!! It's the government since Obama has been in that has been TAKING everything away from Corporations and the people and sending the jobs over seas!! Also....forget about Bush...it's all on Obama now!!!

Monday January 21, 2013, 8:00 pm
J.L. Don't you think though that as a rule more students going to school also work part time jobs to supplement their income and possibly work to pay their college loans!? My guess is there are not many college age students that don't work AND go to college at the same time.

Monday January 21, 2013, 8:20 pm
Many colleges forbid students to work beyond the 10 hour weekly maximum of work study benefits provided on campus (not like years ago)--so I do not think so. They could lose their financial aid if they did the way the program is structured since the research indicates working any more than that is apt to lead to dropping or flunking out of school.

Monday January 21, 2013, 8:29 pm
http://www.stateuniversity.com/blog/permalink/Working-While-in-College.html
http://studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility/staying-eligible

College and University Education [http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372]

Trend data on education related to employment at:
http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2010/college/
note 2.9% of time during school year goes to work for college students

Enrollment

In fall 2012, a record 21.6 million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities, constituting an increase of about 6.2 million since fall 2000 (source, source).

Females are expected to comprise the majority of college students: 12.3 million females will attend in fall 2012, compared with 9.3 million males. Also, more students are expected to attend full time than part time (an estimated 13.3 million, compared with about 8.2 million, respectively) (source, source).

Nearly 7.4 million students will attend public 2-year institutions, and 0.5 million will attend private 2-year colleges. Some 8.1 million students are expected to attend public 4-year institutions, and about 5.6 million will attend private 4-year institutions.

These record college enrollments have been driven in part by both increases in the traditional college age population and rising enrollment rates. Between 2000 and 2010, the 18- to 24-year-old population rose from approximately 27.3 million to approximately 30.7 million (source). The percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college also was higher in 2010 (41.2 percent) than in 2000 (35.5 percent) (source).

Monday January 21, 2013, 8:40 pm
To think the increase in college students today going to college in order to put themselves in a better standing in society in order to find a better job when they are done and then get done and there are no jobs to get is a pathetic thought! It almost appears to be a futile effort on those students part besides a waste of money which is really sad!

Monday January 21, 2013, 8:58 pm
Carol, those data links also show that by having gotten degrees they have substantially increased their chance of a job and higher earnings both annually and lifetime.

Monday January 21, 2013, 9:06 pm
That is great! Nobody can take that away from them for sure...it still don't insure them of a job though..ya know what I mean? If there are no jobs for what they went to college for there is nothing they can do. I have read over the years where high executives, lawyers and etc; are no working low paying jobs because of the economy the way it is. All we can hope for is something to turn around but it sure don't look promising from my view! :-(

Monday January 21, 2013, 9:25 pm
Once upon a time the research showed that a minority of graduates actually worked in the fields they studied and that CEOs valued the generic ability to think and writing skills college developed the most since specifics related to so many areas could be supplemented with training if the applicants had those. Some states' changes tl unemployment insurance rules certainly could have made managers and other high earners have to take lower paid jobs to be supplemented by their UI benefits.

Monday January 21, 2013, 10:49 pm
I know that is a fact! I have first hand knowledge of that! :-)My hubby worked for IBM for 32 years. He would go to schools all the time to keep updated on everything. This one class he was in everyone else had a college degree of some kind..he was the only one who had one semester of college and he topped all of them!! So it can be done!

Tuesday January 22, 2013, 4:55 am
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