This report is about the increasingly large group of men who do not have jobs or are not looking for one. These men have left (or never entered) the labour force for a variety of reasons - education, discouragement when looking for a job, illness and disability, leisure and retirement. Many receive government-funded welfare benefits, especially those on the Age Pension or the Disability Support Pension. The ageing of Australia’s population looks set to increase the proportion of men
unengaged with the world of work. Against this background, policymakers are therefore increasingly considering options that might offset the effects of ageing and help boost labour force participation.

In this context, this report aims to consider:
- who these men are;
- where they live;
- what has happened to them over time;
- how non-participation affects them;
- the various forces that have led to their exit from the labour market; and
- some of the policies that might have effects on labour market engagement;