Why don't we hear discussion of the Labor Force Participation Rate any more ?

It is all one big con to placate the ignorant masses.

In 1994 the BLS changed the headline rate from U5 to U3.

U3: Official unemployment rate per the ILO definition occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively looked for work within the past four weeks.

U4: U3 + "discouraged workers", or those who have stopped looking for work because current economic conditions make them believe that no work is available for them.

U5: U4 + other "marginally attached workers", or "loosely attached workers", or those who "would like" and are able to work, but have not looked for work recently.

U6: U5 + Part-time workers who want to work full-time, but cannot due to economic reasons (underemployment).

I remember limbaugh saying that the labor participation rate wasnt even 60%, so that meant real unemployment was over 40%, which would be way higher than the Great Depression. But the answer is...because Republicans are in power. Dems dont make near the noise about meaningless s**t like the GOP does.