Measures that can capture some of what you're looking for are "U-6 unemployment," which includes discouraged workers as well as those actively looking, as well as the labor force participation rate. U-6 has been showing steady improvement and nearing 30-year lows (from late 90s). Participation rates have been on a decline though for quite some time, but this includes people who don't want to or can't work. One thing we saw during the great recession is a huge increase in permanent disability applications.
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Measures that can capture some of what you're looking for are "U-6 unemployment," which includes discouraged workers as well as those actively looking, as well as the labor force participation rate. U-6 has been showing steady improvement and nearing 30-year lows (from late 90s). Participation rates have been on a decline though for quite some time, but this includes people who don't want to or can't work. One thing we saw during the great recession is a huge increase in permanent disability applications.