The perception of men’s employment in the U.S. has traditionally leaned towards the expectation of full-time work as the norm. However, recent studies, including a comprehensive examination of male baby boomers’ careers spanning over two decades, suggest a reality far removed from this expectation. Despite reaching a 20-year high in 2023 with nearly 90% of men aged 25 to 54 participating in the workforce, the landscape of men’s employment reveals trends of increasing instability and precarity.
This article is a summary. Please read the original article by Sarah Damaske & Adrianne French on The Conversation think tank website, here
The study highlights a significant decline in men’s labor force participation since the 1970s, characterized by shorter employment periods, greater job insecurity, and more instances of long-term unemployment. Surprisingly, only 41% of late baby boomer men maintained continuous, steady employment from their late 20s to late 40s. This disrupts the once common belief in a “lockstep” career path that spanned from education directly into lifelong employment until retirement.
Factors contributing to this shift include the decline of traditionally stable jobs in manufacturing and crafts, influenced by layoffs and offshoring, and an increase in labor market precarity driven by diminished unionization. The study also identified barriers such as early career job turnover, unemployment experiences, and transportation issues as predictors of less stable employment paths.
These findings not only challenge the stereotypes of male employment but also raise concerns about the future of work for succeeding generations. The implications of this shift towards unstable employment are profound, affecting individuals’ economic stability and overall well-being.
However, the situation is not without solutions. The study suggests several measures to improve job stability and quality, including enhancing access to higher education, making jobs less precarious with better pay and more schedule control, and supporting workers’ rights to unionize. Initiatives like Walmart’s increase in pay and schedule flexibility and legislative actions to improve unionization rights and unemployment insurance could pave the way towards more stable and fulfilling employment for men across the U.S.
As we stand at this crossroads, the need to redefine what constitutes “good jobs” in today’s economy and to ensure that all workers have access to stable, secure employment is more critical than ever. The changing dynamics of men’s employment serve as a clarion call for policymakers, employers, and society at large to adapt to the evolving labor market and protect the future of work in America.