An Average Day: Work

On an average day, men are working less. The amount of time men aged 15 or older spent working fell 5 percent between 2005 and 2009, according to the American Time Use Survey. Men aged 45 to 54--the backbone of the American economy--spent 12 percent less time working in 2009 than in 2005. Behind the decline is unemployment.

Interestingly, men aged 65 to 74 spent 31 percent more time working in 2009 than in 2005. Behind the increase: men returning to or remaining in the labor force to make up for lost retirement savings.

Source: Unpublished tables from the American Time Use Survey, 2009 and 2005