National Review 

The Labor-Force Participation Rate Is the Economic Indicator of Our Day

"Our goal must be not only maximum employment of those looking for work, but also that more people who are able to participate in the labor force actually do so. A society of self-government that values human dignity does not encourage late entry to or early exit from the labor force. A labor-force participation rate equal to our pre-2008 levels is attainable, but not without a resurgence of values focused on productivity. The end result would be far more meaningful than what we find in a GDP calculation."