The labor-force participation rate, which measures the percentage of working-age people in the workforce, also dropped to 63.5%, the lowest in 30 years.

WSJ: Zuckerman: The Great Recession Has Been Followed by the Grand Illusion

Goldman's Ms Matsui contends that bringing the female participation rate up to world norms, and raising the retirement age to 70, would each add 0.3 percentage points to annual economic growth.

ECONOMIST: Japan

The participation rate is falling (the percent of those over 18 years of age with a job or actively looking for one), discouraged job seekers number 1.1 million and the teen unemployment rate is a whopping 25 percent.

FORBES: One Country, Two Economies