Changes over time in male participation rates in Australia

This paper investigates the relationship between changes in the age composition of the male population and labour force participation by males in Australia over the period 1978 - 2001. The main findings are: First, that changes in the age composition are the main source of change in the aggregate participation rate. Second, that it is the downward trend in the participation rate for males in the age group 25-54 which for some 6 or 7 years now has been virtually the only source of a reduced rate component in the aggregate. Changes in participation rates by older males, although quantitatively important prior to 1985, are no longer the main source of change in the aggregate participation rate for males.