Bert Dirschell
Centertown
Dear Editor:
Why are so few white males in the workforce?
The earliest data I could find for white men and women was 1954. In January 1954, the labor force participation rate (LFPR) for white males was 86.1. It was only 69.4 in April 2019. For white women, the rate was 32.7 in January 1954 and 56.5 in April 2019. With all the money the federal government spends to provide us with better health care (CDC, FDA, etc.) and safe working environments (OSHA), one would think the LFPR would reach all-time highs during a time of full employment.
The earliest data I could find for black men and women was 1972. In January 1972, the LFPR for black males was 72.7 and 64.8 in April 2019. For black women, the rate was 49.1 in January 1972 and 60.5 in April 2019.
The earliest data I could find for Hispanic men and women was 2003, and it was age-related. The LFPR for Hispanic men 20 and older was 84.8 in January 2003 and 79.9 in April 2019. For Hispanic women 20 and older, the rate was 59.7 in January 2003 and 59.5 in April 2017.