CNBC
Job seekers giving up: Labor force participation rate falls to lowest in 50 years, outside of Covid era
Thursday, July 2, 2026
The unemployment rate decreased in the latest jobs report. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate fell to its lowest level in 50 years outside of the Covid-19 pandemic period. The participation rate measures the percentage of the working-age population either employed or actively seeking work.
