Growth or decline in the labor force can be viewed as stemming from changes in population and labor force participation, and from their interaction. In the period 1940-70 a large increase occurred in the female labor force, particularly in the South, while a decrease was noted in the participation of nonwhites. When the sexes are considered separately within the color groups, the highest increase in labor force participation was that for white females, a lower increase was observed for nonwhite females although their employment rate remains higher than for white females. In contrast, rates have dropped for white and nonwhite males in the South, with a sharper decline for nonwhites. When the variable of age is included a steady decline is noted for older white males and for both young and old nonwhite males, while increases in all age groups occurred for white and nonwhite females, especially among middle aged nonwhites. In summary, the proportions of persons in the various age-sex-color groups comprising the total labor force in the South indicates greater participation by white women, and a smaller increase for nonwhite women in the middle and older years and for middle aged white men. (SA)