The Week Ahead: American workers coming off the sidelines

Every month for the past six years, American companies have created more jobs than they've eliminated. When the April jobs report is released in the week ahead, it's expected we'll see that trend continue.

It's the longest streak of monthly job gains on record with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And while it's impressive, there's another economic barometer that merits watching this week: the frustration levels of working-age Americans, which finally, after years of pain, seem to be lightening.

No doubt, this economic cycle is mature and has been shallow for many Americans. Wages have barely budged, with many Americans making the same amount of money or even less than a decade ago. Millions have simply dropped out of employment data entirely, due to frustration or a personal situation, such as their health or that of a family member.

That frustration, however, may now be steadily declining.

The rebound began after September, when the workforce participation rate -- the percentage of working-age individuals employed or seeking work -- hit a 38-year low. The decline had begun in 2000 and was accelerated by the recession and masses of retiring baby boomers, economists said.

Since September, though, participation has recovered, increasing each month.

In April's data, to be released Friday, we could see the fifth straight month of Americans growing more confident in their job prospects.

And that'd be good news in an aging economic expansion.

Financial journalist Tom Hudson, host of "The Sunshine Economy" on WLRN-FM in Miami, writes this column for the Herald. Follow him on Twitter@HudsonsView.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 11:54 PM with the headline "The Week Ahead: American workers coming off the sidelines ."