HOUSEHOLD DATA
NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
A-38. Persons not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex
[In thousands]
Category Total Age Sex
Jan.
2014		 Jan.
2015		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Jan.
2014		 Jan.
2015		 Jan.
2014		 Jan.
2015		 Jan.
2014		 Jan.
2015		 Jan.
2014		 Jan.
2015		 Jan.
2014		 Jan.
2015

Total not in the labor force

 92,534 93,674 18,347 18,176 23,771 23,820 50,416 51,677 37,414 37,708 55,120 55,966

Do not want a job now(1)

 86,026 87,207 16,430 16,264 20,831 21,127 48,765 49,815 34,268 34,678 51,757 52,528

Want a job(1)

 6,508 6,467 1,917 1,912 2,941 2,693 1,650 1,862 3,146 3,030 3,363 3,437

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,440 3,627 1,017 1,018 1,404 1,397 1,018 1,212 1,645 1,569 1,795 2,059

Searched for work in previous year(2),
but not in past 4 weeks

 3,069 2,840 900 894 1,536 1,296 632 650 1,501 1,461 1,568 1,379

Not available to work now

 477 606 188 242 236 290 52 74 184 246 293 359

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 2,592 2,234 712 652 1,300 1,006 580 576 1,317 1,215 1,275 1,019

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 837 682 174 159 435 301 228 223 466 463 370 219

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,755 1,552 538 493 865 705 352 353 851 751 904 800

Family responsibilities

 295 255 26 32 220 164 49 59 91 57 204 198

In school or training

 347 321 249 243 95 55 3 23 193 175 154 146

Ill health or disability

 145 175 5 19 82 94 58 63 74 93 71 82

Other(5)

 968 801 258 200 468 392 242 208 493 427 476 374

Footnotes
 (1) Includes some persons who are not asked if they want a job.
(2) Persons who had a job in the prior 12 months must have searched since the end of that job.
(3) Persons "marginally attached to the labor force" are those who want a job, have searched for work during the prior 12 months, and were available to take a job during the reference week, but had not looked for work in the past 4 weeks.
(4) Discouraged workers are persons marginally attached to the labor force who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for reasons such as thinks no work available, could not find work, lacks schooling or training, employer thinks too young or old, and other types of discrimination.
(5) Includes those who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for such reasons as child-care and transportation problems, as well as a small number for which reason for nonparticipation was not ascertained.

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

 

Last Modified Date: February 06, 2015