Measuring Worklife Expectancy: Debunking the “Try Rate” and “P Problem”

Brookshire & Forlines (2015) discuss the concept of a “try rate” in attempting to create a “P problem” regarding the measurement of worklife expectancy. The main issue with their argument is that it completely neglects the many reasons that some individuals with disabilities are not participants in the labor force. Disabled individuals, even when participating in the labor market and seeking employment, often find themselves unemployed as a result of their efforts. Over time, they may become discouraged from participation and drop out of the labor market. Even if these individuals were participants in the labor force, they would likely be unemployed.