January 2001
The civilian labor force,
142.0 million, grew by 466,000 and the labor force participation rate rose to 67.3 percent.
December 2003
The civilian labor force fell by 309,000 in December to
146.9 million; the labor force participation rate decreased over the month to 66.0 percent.
That's a wierd way to lose jobs.
The unemployment rate, of course, is a different matter, but it's not bad by any stretch either.