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How many disabled persons are in the labor force?
The labor force is made up of people who are employed, those just laid off, and those who are actively looking for a job. It does not include people who are not working and not looking for a job. Of the 158.6 million between the ages of 18-64 in 1994, 124.6 million were in the labor force, a labor force participation rate of 78.6%. However, labor force participation rates are quite different for those with activity limitations (51.8%) compared to those without (83.0%). The difference is consistent when looking at men and women in the labor force(58.8% of limited men versus 91.4% of nonlimited men; 45.6% of limited women compared to 74.9% of nonlimited women).
Graphic: Bar chart.
A far lower percentage of of both men and women with activity limitations are in the labor force.
Source: Trupin, 1996
Survey: NHIS, 1994