Why people are dropping out of the workforce and not looking for new jobs: 'The market wore me down'
A growing number of discouraged workers are exiting the U.S. labor force after failing to secure employment despite months of searching. Economists note that this trend, combined with mass layoffs and an aging population, is contributing to a significant decline in labor force participation.
Why it matters
The shrinking labor force participation rate signals potential long-term economic stagnation and highlights the psychological toll of a competitive, volatile job market.
After six months of scouring job listings and sending off resumes, Dan Coda's job search came to an end. He didn't find the technical program or project management job he wanted; he just stopped looking altogether.
Starting around December 2025, when he was laid off from his previous role, Coda says he spent more than 300 hours job hunting, submitting dozens of applications, hearing back about 15 potential roles and going through multiple rounds of interviews to no avail. By June, Coda says he was done with the grueling effort of looking for work.
"The market wore me down," the 40-year-old from Durham, North Carolina, tells CNBC Make It. "I was hitting wall after wall after wall and not getting anywhere."
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