It wouldn't be a happier population because there are virtually no social services and no one has any savings to live off of.
If people don't have a job in 2024 America, they aren't gardening and writing poetry and living their best lives not having to work. They are dying when they can't afford healthcare.
I understand that, but if a low workforce participation was seen as a good thing by the country then the systems would have changed to be closer to that ideal. It's not that way now, but the economy is basically only code for how much the rich makes.
I know it looks like I'm living in a different world, but I'm not. We do need those systems you mentioned.
On the economy, if it's good the lower classes keep their jobs usually, while if it's bad then the rich lose money from their hoard and we get fired to "raise the stocks" or something so they can keep adding to their hoard.
I would love to have such social systems in place and have people who have a savings to speak of. I know I don't.