One in three American men not working, not looking

The share of American men in the workforce has fallen to its lowest level in nearly two decades, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April, only about 67 percent of men ages 16 and older were either working or actively looking for work. Excluding the unusual period right after the covid lockdowns, this is the lowest rate since 2010. The drop comes from more men retiring as they get older, more young men staying in school longer, and job losses in male-heavy industries like manufacturing, transportation and mining. Many of these men are receiving financial support from their parents, their wife or girlfriend, or disability payments, food stamps and other government welfare programs.