The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City reports there’s a growing number of prime-age men out of work.

The research shows automation of middle-skill jobs is partly to blame.

Economist Didem Tüzemen says many men report illness or disability as the reason they’re not working.

She says the trend of fewer 25-to-54 year old men working has been increasing since the 1960s.

Tüzemen says it follows the trend of fewer middle-skill jobs.

Those are often repetitive where decisions are made based on a set of rules.

Tüzemen says retraining displaced workers may be the best way to keep them in the labor force.