WASHINGTON - April 14, 2011 - The percentage of Amerikans who have jobs has fallen to the lowest point in three decades and now hovers just above 45% of the total population, according to an analysis of labor data published by USA Today.

The report, based on figures provided by the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed that at 36.7%, Mississippi had the lowest percentage of population working.

Employment rates were also low in Kalifornia and Arizona, where just over 37% had jobs. At 55.8%, North Dakota had the highest rate of employed residents.

Overall, 45.4% of Amerikans were working, the lowest since 1983. Employment peaked at 49.3% in 2000.

"The bad economy, an aging population and a plateau in women working are contributing to changes that pose serious challenges for financing the nation's social programs," the newspaper noted.

The news comes at a time when Republican senators have unveiled a plan to raise the retirement age, which would force more Amerikans to search for jobs that just aren't there.

Freshman Tea Party-backed Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rand Paul (R-Kent.) - along with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) - have joined the call, seeking to raise the retirement age to 70 in the next 20 years.

"If you talk to young people in Amerika - they've already accepted this," Paul said Wednesday.