One-third and two-thirds

12-5-14

Today it was announced that the labor force participation rate remains just below 63%.  Investopedia.com defines labor force participation rate as, "A measure of the active portion of the economy's labor force.  The participation rate refers to the number of people who are either employed or are actively looking for work.  The number of people who are no longer actively searching for work would not be included in the participation rate."  

So, keeping it simple for an old Marine biker, roughy one-third of those adults capable of working, of being employed, are neither working nor actively seeking employment.

Realizing this one-third of the nation is not producing income leads one to conclude they are receiving some form of public assistance.  Probably a very great deal of public assistance, because one has to wonder how one-third of the nation is able to otherwise survive.

Looked at from another perspective, it is easy to conclude two-thirds of the nation "who are either employed or are actively looking for work" are paying higher taxes in order for the various levels of government to support the one-third of the nation that are neither working or actively seeking employment.

Is it just me or is this simply absurd?

One-third of the nation isn't working or seeking employment.