Journal Article
Obesity, disability, and the labor force
Park, Kyung-Hong; Butcher, Kristin F. (2008-01)
Men of prime working age have increased their non-employment rates over the past 30 years, and disability rates have also increased. Many have noted that this increase has happened against a backdrop of generally improving health in the U.S. population. However, obesity has increased substantially over this period. The authors find that changes in the characteristics of male workers?including age, race, ethnicity, and obesity levels?can explain a large portion (around 40 percent) of the increase in non-employment.
Economic Perspectives , Volume 32 , Issue Q I

Journal Article
The decline in teen labor force participation
Sullivan, Daniel G.; Aaronson, Daniel; Park, Kyung-Hong (2006-01)
The authors examine the recent decline in teen work activity, offering explanations for both the long secular decline since the late 1970s and the recent acceleration in this decline since 2000. They argue that much of this pattern is due to a significant increase in the rewards to formal education. They also explore the importance of changes to labor demand, crowding out by substitutable workers, the increased work activity of mothers, and increases in wealth.
Economic Perspectives , Volume 30 , Issue Q I

Newsletter
Explaining the decline in teen labor force participation
Sullivan, Daniel G.; Aaronson, Daniel; Park, Kyung-Hong (2007-01)
Fewer teenagers are participating in the labor force today than at any point since WWII. At just under 44%, teen labor force participation is 15 percentage points below its peak in the late 1970s. Why has there been a long-run secular decline in the work activity of young adults, and why has it sharply accelerated in the last five years?
Chicago Fed Letter , Issue Jan