Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced
Length: 2 pages minimum
Labor Force Participation Rates and the Minimum Wage
For several years now, there has been a downward trend in the labor force participation rate. Many
Americans are simply choosing to not work. This is anticipated to negatively impact the U.S. economy as
the country looks for ways to encourage more people, especially men, to become part of the labor force.
One option was to increase the minimum wage. The state of California approved an increase to $15.00 an
hour due to take effect incrementally until it reaches $15.00 in 2023. The state’s minimum wage is
presently $10.50 an hour. Other options include: offering educational and retraining programs that can
help workers improve their skills, setting tougher requirements to obtain welfare benefits, encouraging
companies to hire the long-term unemployed, and many more.
Compose a short essay in which you address the following questions:
1. Discuss recent trends in the labor force participation rate and the reasons why people would
willingly not look for a job. Provide a discussion on trends in the real wage and how that might
affect your willingness to work.
2. Discuss the impacts of a minimum wage on the labor market. What is the result when the
minimum wage increases? What are the arguments for and against this policy? Is raising the
minimum wage a good solution to the problem?
3. What else can the government do to encourage more people to join the labor market and look for
jobs?
A few resources
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