But the recession triggered sudden and sustained declines in the LFPR across all age groups in response to weak demand and poor job prospects. A recent CBO analysis attributes about one-half of the decline in the LFPR from the end of 2007 to the end of 2013 to these cyclical factors, with the remainder explained by secular demographic trends.
一个关键的政策问题是为何LFPR会持续下降。人口结构显然是一个因素：更大的劳动力比例达到了退休年龄，而16—24岁年龄段上学的比例也在增加。但衰退在所有年龄段都引起了突然而持续的LFPR下降，这是拜疲软的需求和暗淡的就业前景所赐。最新的CBO分析认为2007年底到2013年底的LFPR下降有一半可以归因于周期性因素，其他则可以用长期人口结构趋势解释。