Despite improved economy, many men don't have or want a job

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Podcasts Take Two

Nov 22, 2016

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Despite improved economy, many men don't have or want a job

The U.S. economy has recovered well from the Great Recession. But there's still a big part of the labor force that hasn't gone back to work: Men.

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The U.S. economy has recovered well from the Great Recession. But there's still a big part of the labor force that hasn't gone back to work: Men.

After a long recovery, the US job market now seems pretty solid.

The official unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in more than 40 years.

But the statistics hide a troubling fact...

About 7 million men aged 25 to 54 are neither employed nor "available for work."

Why aren't they on the job?

Possible reasons include everything from being in too much pain to work... to spending their time playing video games instead.

Reporter Jim Puzzanghera covers business and economics for the Los Angeles Times and reported on this curious legion on non-working men.

He spoke with Take Two's Alex Cohen.

Audio coming soon.