the workforce

I keep seeing stories that actually do break my heart, but also kind of anger me.
The last one was about a '62 year old college grad' looking for help finding work.
Of course, people must do what they must, and I'm not mad about the fact that this lady wanted to find a job, but it did get me thinking about the notion of people working well into their 70's.
One thing that is true is that there are a limited number of jobs available. There is not a small number, but the number is limited. For every job someone has, there is someone else unable to work. I was talking with my sister about this concept relating to women entering the workforce en masse, but I don't think she caught where I was going with it. I was talking about the reasonably massive influx of workers when women began working more and how it affected the labor market. I was wondering if anyone was discussing the negative influence the increase in supply of labor was having on wages and benefits packages. Also, the fact that we have now an expectation based on living expenses of families with 2 incomes. The days of 1 income households seem to be over. Now I know it depends on the income, but look realistically at what mOST people make.
Anyway this ties in with the 62 year old anecdote above in that it seems that no one ever discusses the negative influence over supply of labor has on our economy. We hear about new job creation, but also that most people can't afford to live without 2 or sometimes 3 jobs, which is 'uniquely American'. I just personally wish that we as a people could stake less of our identities on our jobs/careers, so that workers won't lose themselves when they can actually afford to leave the workforce, thereby opening up opportunities for others, and bringing up the value of labor, by making it more scarce.
I don't know how much of this is making sense right now, and I know I'm not offering a solution. I don't think this has a solution. I just think that is a problem facing us, which will continue, and is worthy of discussion.