Mike Rowe Sounds Alarm: A Growing 'Will Gap' as Millions of Men Leave the Workforce

Mike Rowe Sounds Alarm: A Growing 'Will Gap' as Millions of Men Leave the Workforce – Here's Why

Worries over the shortage of workers with necessary job skills have been central to discussions about the labor force, but Mike Rowe, CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, highlights a different issue: a declining... desire to work.

"The skills gap exists, but the willingness gap is equally present," stated the 63-year-old ex-TV presenter in a recent conversation with Fox Business .

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He stated that 6.8 million "physically capable men" are not only without jobs but also not actively looking for work. "This has never occurred during times of peace," he claimed.

This is what leads him to think that the well-known strong work ethic of America is slowly declining.

Men abandoning the workforce

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics According to the BLS, the percentage of women working has stayed fairly consistent since the early 1990s. Meanwhile, male labor force involvement has gradually decreased, falling from 86.6% in 1948 to 68% in 2024.

According to the Bipartisan Policy Center (The BPC) indicates that the labor force participation rate among men during their peak working ages (between 25 and 54 years old) decreased from 98% in September 1954 to 89% as of January 2024.

Notably, 28% of these men said they were not working by choice, validating Rowe’s claim that the desire for employment has diminished. However, the survey also found that 57% of prime-age men cite mental or physical health issues as barriers to working or job-seeking, suggesting that many are not as “able-bodied” as Rowe assumes.

Additionally, 47% of these men cite a lack of training and education, obsolete skills, or a lacklustre work history as major obstacles to employment. Fortunately, Rowe has a solution for this specific group.

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Solving the crisis

Increasing access to skill development programs may encourage certain men to return to work.

Via his foundation, Rowe has distributed $8.5 million in financial aid since 2008, assisting over 1,800 individuals pursuing vocational training programs nationwide.

"My objective with mikeroweWORKS isn't to assist the largest possible group," he stated. Fox Business It aims to assist individuals who align with our perspective of the world and are ready to head where the job opportunities lie. Those who are prepared to showcase a strong sense of dedication and hard work, as seen in 2025.

Likewise, the BPC advocates for increasing the number of individuals who qualify for Pell Grants, enabling greater access to financial assistance. By 2024, approximately 34% of college students obtain a Pell Grant, as reported by the Education Data Initiative .

Enhancing workplace assistance initiatives may play a crucial role in helping men who face mental and physical health difficulties reintegrate into their jobs. Over half of prime-working-age men who were out of work, according to a survey conducted by BPC, mentioned that access to health coverage significantly influences their decision to go back to employment.

Additional key advantages consist of paid time off for illness, adjustments for disabilities, adaptable work hours, and medical leave. Moreover, 40% of participants indicated that mental health benefits are highly significant, while 28% mentioned they may have remained at their former position if they had been able to take paid medical leave.

Although these approaches might be intricate and costly, increasing men's involvement in the labor force could lead to substantial economic gains, such as reduced inflation and increased growth, as noted in a 2023 report from the Center for American Progress .