The 1995 labor force: BLS' latest projections

The labor force is projected to reach 129 million persons in 1995, up from 114 million in 1984, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics projections . The new middle growth projections show the labor force growing at a slower rate over the 1984-95 period than over the 1975-84 period, with the slowest growth occurring during the early 1990's . Blacks are expected to account for a larger share (20 percent) of the future labor force growth, the consequence of higher birth rates during the past several decades . Women also are expected to account for a larger share of growth (60 percent), the consequence of continued increased participation rates . Because of the aging of the baby-boom generation and the projected continued declines in participation among older persons, nearly three-fourths of the 1995 labor force is projected to be in the prime working ages (25 to 54 years), compared with two-thirds of the 1984 labor force. The prime working age component of the labor force is projected to increase by 21 million, while the overall labor force is projected to increase by only 15 million inasmuch as the numbers of those in both the older and younger labor force are projected to drop . Participation among women ages 25 to 44 is expected to exceed 80 percent in 1995, up from 70 percent in 1984 and 50 percent in 1970 . The continuing increases reflect changes