Trend Reversal of Old-Age Labor Force Participation in Germany While life expectancy has significantly increased almost everywhere in the world, most industrialized economies had been witnessing a fall in retirement age since 1970. However, since the late 1990s, this trend has been reversing. In 2017, 69 percent of Germany’s population in the 55–64 age group was employed compared to the low level of 38 percent in 2000.

a. Explain how the labor force and unemployment rates changed in Germany between the 1970s and the 1990s.

b. Explain how the labor force and unemployment rates have changed in Germany since the 1990s.