Podcast Summary
Men Without Work: The Hidden Crisis of Disconnected Men: Men's labor force participation has decreased, leading to economic and societal consequences. Causes include disability, incarceration, and education. Solutions involve encouraging self-reliance and industriousness.
Despite a decrease in unemployment, there's an invisible crisis with fewer working-age men participating in the labor force than before. Economist Nicholas Eberstadt, author of "Men Without Work," calls attention to this issue, which has been overlooked due to its occurrence outside the "bubble" and the lack of public security problems or victim status for men. This trend could have significant economic and societal consequences. Eberstadt's research delves into causes, such as disability, incarceration, and education, and suggests solutions for encouraging self-reliance and industriousness among men. For more information, check out the show notes at aom.is/men-without-work.
Understanding Labor Market Participation Beyond Unemployment: While the unemployment rate provides insight into those actively seeking work, it doesn't account for 'discouraged workers' who have given up on finding employment.
... the unemployment rate only tells part of the story when it comes to labor market participation. While some individuals are unemployed and actively seeking work, there's a significant group that is neither working nor looking for employment. This group, often referred to as "discouraged workers," is not included in traditional unemployment statistics. Economists use monthly labor reports, which have been in place since 1947, to estimate the number of prime-age adults who fall into this category. This information is crucial for understanding the true scope of labor market issues.
Prime Age Men Dropping Out of the Workforce in the US: Since the mid-60s, over 10% of prime age US men aren't working or looking for work, a trend that's the largest and steepest among rich Western democracies, causing a significant economic concern.
The number of men between the ages of 25 and 54 who are neither working nor looking for work in the United States has been growing exponentially since the mid-1960s, making up more than 10% of all civilian non-institutional prime age men. This trend began before the 1960s but accelerated significantly after that point. The percentage of prime age men with paid work has dropped from nearly 96% in the mid-60s to about 85% today. This issue is not unique to the United States, but the decline in the percentage of prime age men in the workforce in the U.S. is the steepest and largest among all rich Western democracies. The reasons for this are complex and multifaceted, but the U.S. seems to be losing a race that it doesn't want to win. The scale of the problem is great depression era, with the latest figures showing that even an hour of paid work a week among prime age men is slightly worse than it was in 1940.
Prime-age men not working: Economic and social factors: Economic changes like manufacturing decline, trade competition, and outsourcing, combined with social factors such as a less generous welfare state and a large population of felons, contribute to high numbers of prime-age men not working in the US.
The high rate of prime-age men not working or looking for work in the United States can be attributed to a combination of structural economic changes and social factors. These economic changes include the decline of manufacturing, increased trade competition, and the outsourcing of less-skilled jobs. Social factors include a less generous social welfare state with perverse incentives, such as a large population of felons who face significant barriers to employment due to their criminal records. This population, which is estimated to be over 20 million adults, is much larger than in other rich countries and contributes to the high number of prime-age men not participating in the workforce. The stigma surrounding felons and the assumption that many job applicants have criminal records further exacerbates the issue.
Mass incarceration leads to disengagement from society: 7 million adults are disengaged from society due to mass incarceration, spending 2,100 hours/yr watching TV instead of volunteering or working
Mass incarceration not only prevents individuals from working in certain industries after their release, but also leads to a disengagement from society. According to the discussion, approximately 7 million adults between the ages of 25 and 54 are neither working nor looking for work. Among this group, those in the NEET (Neither Employed, Nor in Education or Training) category make up the majority. These individuals are reported to spend a significant amount of time watching, totaling around 2,100 hours per year. However, they engage in very little volunteering, charitable work, or childcare. This disengagement from civil society may be a result of various factors, including discrimination against felons, loss of skills while in prison, or lack of interest from employers. Without further information, it is unclear which factors contribute the most to this issue.
Men disengaging from workforce with grim societal consequences: Men without college degrees staying home contributes to slower economic growth, larger income gaps, increased social welfare dependence, and higher public debt, particularly for prime-age Anglo men who may be dealing with 'deaths of despair' such as cirrhosis, drug overdoses, and suicide.
The increasing number of men, particularly those without a college degree, disengaging from the workforce and staying at home presents a grim picture with significant societal ramifications. These men, who may be taking pain medication and playing video games, contribute to slower economic growth, larger income and wealth gaps, increased social welfare dependence, and higher public debt. The situation is particularly concerning for prime-age Anglo men, many of whom have experienced an increase in deaths from "deaths of despair," including cirrhosis, drug overdoses, and suicide. This demographic is not limited to those completely out of the labor force, but the consumption of pain medication appears to be more prevalent among this group.
Labor force participation varies for men based on ethnicity, education, marital status, and nativity: African Americans are overrepresented among those out of the labor force, while Asians and Latinos are underrepresented. High school dropouts, single men, and foreign-born men are more likely to be out of the labor force. These men receive significant government assistance, yet have lower living standards than employed men.
The labor force participation of men in the U.S. varies significantly based on ethnicity, education, marital status, and nativity. African Americans are overrepresented among those out of the labor force, while Asians and Latinos are underrepresented. High school dropouts and single men, regardless of ethnicity, are more likely to be out of the labor force. Men born abroad are more likely to be in the workforce than their native-born counterparts. Those men who are out of the labor force receive a significant portion of their support from disability payments and government assistance programs, placing them above the bottom fifth of the income distribution but below men who are employed. Ironically, these men have lower living standards than employed men. Almost three in five of these men receive benefits from at least one disability program, making them eligible for additional government assistance such as healthcare, Medicaid, and SNAP.
Men struggling outside workforce: Government focus on education and business environment can help men outside workforce thrive, but avoid intervention in family and religious matters.
Men who are outside of the workforce are not living in poverty but are not thriving either. This issue is a long-term historical trend and requires a collective effort from society to address it. The author suggests that the government could focus on improving skills education and revitalizing small businesses to create more job opportunities. However, he cautions against government intervention in family and religious matters. The author emphasizes that it's essential to have open discussions about the problem and explore various solutions from all sectors of society. The government's role should be limited to areas where it can make a positive impact, such as education and business environment. Ultimately, the solution to this issue will require a collaborative effort from individuals, communities, and the government.
Addressing societal complexities: Disability insurance, ex-felons, and evidence-based policies: Embrace a 'work first' principle for disability benefits, gather more data on ex-felons, expand understanding of societal issues, and foster empathy to tackle complex challenges in disability insurance and ex-felon employment.
Our society faces complex issues related to disability insurance, employment for ex-felons, and the need for evidence-based policies. Disability insurance programs, originally intended for social support, have evolved into an alternative to employment for many. The 20 million ex-felons live in the shadows of society, with insufficient data available to create effective policies for their reintegration into the workforce. To address these issues, the speaker suggests a "work first" principle for disability benefits and advocates for gathering more information about ex-felons. Individuals can contribute by expanding their understanding of societal issues and increasing contact with diverse communities, recognizing that the escalator of opportunity has stopped for many Americans. By fostering empathy and engaging in open dialogue, we can work towards addressing these long-term challenges.
Spread the Word About the Art of Manliness Podcast: Sharing the Art of Manliness podcast with others through reviews and word of mouth helps expand its audience and spread manly wisdom to more people.
Brett McKay emphasized the value of the podcast community and encouraged listeners to leave reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, as well as share the show with friends. Word of mouth is a powerful tool for expanding the show's audience, and by doing so, more people can benefit from the manly tips and advice provided. So, in essence, the more we share the Art of Manliness podcast with others, the more manly wisdom can spread and positively impact the lives of many. Don't forget to check out the Art of Manliness website at artofmanliness.com for more resources and information. Stay manly, and we'll see you next time!
