Labor Force Shrinks to 61% Participation Rate
Source: Robertreich
The US labor participation rate has dropped to 61%, driven by aging Baby Boomers, persistent disability claims, and workers exiting the market rather than accepting available wages. Fewer workers means less aggregate purchasing power. Retailers betting on volume growth face a shrinking pool of employed buyers with discretionary spending capacity. Consumer brands can't grow if working-age participation continues to decline, forcing a choice between higher price points targeting remaining employed workers or accepting demand saturation.