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American men are increasingly opting out of the workforce, with only 89% of working-age men either employed or actively seeking work, a significant drop from the 97% recorded in 1950. Factors contributing to this trend include economic recessions, the shifting educational landscape where women now outnumber men in college, and the declining value of jobs traditionally held by men without college degrees.
Additionally, societal shifts and an expanding social safety net have influenced this demographic's participation in the labor force. Experts suggest that a combination of these factors contributes to a decrease in self-esteem and dissatisfaction with the available employment options, leading many men to choose different paths like further education, caregiving, or leaving the workforce entirely.