Millions of men in their prime working age are leaving the labor force, creating a hole in the ma…

Around seven million men in their prime working age neither have jobs nor are looking for one, creating a huge hole in the labor market and costing businesses in male-dominated fields like manufacturing millions of dollars. Tony Dokoupil talks to "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe and the CEO of a manufacturing company about the reasons behind this phenomenon.

Each weekday morning, "CBS Mornings” co-hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson bring you the latest breaking news, smart conversation and in-depth feature reporting. "CBS Mornings" airs weekdays at 7 a.m. on CBS and stream it at 8 a.m. ET on the CBS News app.

[georgehanson]

Gotta love how they interview everyone for this piece except men between 25 and 54 who are not working. 😂

[markeverett]

They made a whole segment about the wave of men leaving the workforce and they couldn't even find a single one to interview. Top notch reporting right there.

[brandonalloway]

I can tell you as a college graduate in "Prime working age" corporations aren't hiring like they say they are.

[enceladus]

Men who worked hard used to be rewarded with a home, wife and a family. Now we get none of those things. Why would I work for a society who’s robbed me of the American dream.

[PeterKardas]

This is MISINFORMATION. They didn't ask: "What is your hourly pay rate? Do you offer Health Insurance? What are the RENTS in the area? What's the CRIME rate in this area?" I lived in the Philly area for 30 years. The wages are TERRIBLE...and the rents are HIGH. Many are struggling to survive on $15 per hour - or LESS.
But the CBS journalist, who makes a GREAT salary, somehow neglected to ask the MAIN questions! We're being abused, economically, then LIED TO by the Media - then told that men are LAZY! Unbelievable! Additionally, older people, who apply for work, are discriminated against. Why? Their HEALTH CARE costs more. So employers higher YOUNGER people - even if they are less qualified. NO ONE EVER addresses that...but it's true.

[jodollman]

My husband is in his prime working years and has applied to hundreds of jobs without any offers. He's qualified, he's skilled, he has experience but at 50+ he seems to be ignored. It's infuriating and quite frankly depressing. Most of the corporations are lying. They don't really want to hire. They make it look like they want to hire but prefer to make one employee do the work of three for the pay of one.

[littlelizzymamaliz]

This makes me so sick. It's like they're blaming people for not wanting to work for slavery wages

[w.s.]

Men are checking out of work, relationships, and society in general.... is it really that surprising that when you degrade someone long enough, they finally check out

[sabartooth]

This is such bull, I spent my entire 20s trying to get an apprenticeship in the labor industry, hundreds of applications and never even got call backs, when I finally got into a contracting job(which was the only thing I could get into) they lowballed us and paid us basically minimum wage until the company went under, after that I got a job working from home that paid more than double what I was making as a contractor. These companies abused their workers and underpaid them for decades and now they're all in shock that no one wants to work for them, hah

[dawnstarr]

I retired early because I was being paid for one job, but doing two other jobs that were higher paid positions. They use you and then spit you out. Stand your ground workers!

[aramriley]

As a former laborer of many industries from welding and mechanics to hvac, to construction and even tree trimming from power lines, I realized that one employer was charging other corporations $200 per hour for my labor and skill while I was barely making a living wage. Over the years I paid the ultimate price as now I have physical and health issues from asthma to chronic arthritis in my back with zero cartilage remaining between my vertebrae. I live with constant daily pain that requires a daily steroid just to minimize inflammation. I can no longer keep up with my children or live a fulfilling life and I am only in my early 40's....all to make someone else more rich while we are taken advantage of and left struggling to provide generational wealth for our families. I feel many men are realizing this and are fed up. Don't get it wrong I am not sitting around watching tv or playing games living off of the 2021, I enrolled myself back into college to get retrained for a more suitable skill for my physical issues and I am looking forward to getting back to work again, but I am done with making less than desirable wages or wages that just meet the cost of living requirements that keep me trapped in the revolving door of the middle class. In the field of Cybersecurity, I pray that I will not have that issue for a long time.

[nogginthenoggfubar]

It's not a man problem.
It's a corporate greed problem

[bobbyhogo]

Gotta love people working in television and management explaining why people don’t want to work harder in harder less glamorous jobs than they do.

[Rjazul]

The employers created this problem, the workers didn’t. No one’s buying it.
From age 16-21, I struggled to find employment, and so did my peers. That was a major factor in my decision to join the military. Years later, honorable discharge in hand along with certifications… I dealt with worse employment opportunities than I did before I left!! It was infuriating and confusing.
You want workers? Train them.
You want to keep workers? Give them benefits and treat them right. But step one is opening the door

[AshtonCoolman]

Working hard used to mean getting ahead. We also worked hard for the good women in our lives. Both are gone now so why work yourself to death if it's for nothing 🤷

[jermainemyrn]

This is the equalivanet of saying "millions of cows are leaving the plantation". We really are livestock to rich people. No wonder why they make it illegal to sleep in your car

[superipodmanvik]

Talk to the workers, not the employers. They will tell you the truth. Just make sure you blur their face

[daviddobson]

Been a contractor for thirty years, manual labor, own my business, never had employees, it's very hard work. I regret giving up some of my prime years just to participate in this economic structure. Men are getting tired of all work and no play, I know I am.

[whobutroo]

its a mystery why men in their prime dont want to work??? how about the fact that it costs so much more to have a family yet the jobs pay you so little. You have to put in 90 hours a week just to get by and then have to beg for a raise. We are sick of it. You dont want to pay us? Fine. Do the job yourself.

[BSB]

At 40 with a degree in chemistry and physics I couldn’t even get an interview with hundreds of resumes sent out so I eventually had to become self-employed until I retired so much for the labor shortage