Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/70658 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 2012-10
Publisher: 
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Abstract: 
This paper uses matched individual-level data from the Current Population Survey to determine that around the 2008 recession, there was a significant upward shift in trend of the share of labor force leavers giving Schooling and Other as the reason for absence from the labor market. This trend shift is observed primarily among workers between the ages of 25 and 54 and is widespread across all educational groups with at least a high school degree. In addition, the upward shift in the trend of the schooling reason share occurred among workers previously employed in occupations and industries with varying degrees of job losses during the recession. This shift suggests it was a widespread phenomenon and not isolated among sectors or occupations that suffered the most during the recession. The implication is that the upward shift in the schooling reason share has more likely been a response to lower opportunity costs of schooling during economic downturns rather than the result of workers trying to overcome skill mismatch in the labor market. In addition, since transition rates to the labor force are highest among those giving Schooling and Other as reasons for absence, the decline in labor force participation since 2008 is likely more transitory than permanent.
Subjects: 
nonparticipation
labor force participation
labor market transition
great recession
JEL: 
J21
J22
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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