Fewer young people looking for work

[September 08, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- One reason the proportion of adults in the workforce has dropped is that many younger adults have given up looking for a job. Or they never started.

The workforce consists of those with a job or actively looking for one.

The proportion of people ages 16 to 24 in the workforce fell more than 1 percentage point last month to 54.1 percent. That's the lowest "participation rate" for that group in 57 years. Many are likely staying in school or returning to school, hoping for a turnaround in the job market later.

By contrast, the participation rate for workers 55 and older rose from 40.2 percent to 40.4 percent. The rate for those 25 to 54 was unchanged at 81.4 percent.

[Associated Press; By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.