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
Apr.
2012		 Apr.
2013		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Apr.
2012		 Apr.
2013		 Apr.
2012		 Apr.
2013		 Apr.
2012		 Apr.
2013		 Apr.
2012		 Apr.
2013		 Apr.
2012		 Apr.
2013

Total not in the labor force

 88,879 90,436 18,216 18,136 23,244 23,633 47,419 48,667 35,452 36,095 53,427 54,340

Do not want a job now(1)

 82,551 84,107 16,102 16,016 20,613 20,970 45,836 47,120 32,311 33,137 50,240 50,970

Want a job(1)

 6,328 6,329 2,113 2,120 2,631 2,663 1,583 1,546 3,141 2,958 3,187 3,370

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,285 3,196 1,065 1,017 1,281 1,206 939 972 1,542 1,400 1,743 1,795

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

 3,042 3,133 1,048 1,103 1,350 1,456 644 574 1,599 1,558 1,444 1,575

Not available to work now

 679 786 367 419 251 284 61 84 288 338 391 449

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 2,363 2,347 681 684 1,099 1,172 583 490 1,311 1,220 1,053 1,127

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 968 835 202 165 451 399 315 271 611 496 357 339

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,395 1,512 479 520 648 773 268 219 699 724 696 788

Family responsibilities

 192 243 29 21 125 176 37 46 52 55 139 187

In school or training

 313 341 229 271 78 68 6 3 191 197 121 144

Ill health or disability

 149 163 16 12 75 84 57 67 86 72 63 90

Other(5)

 742 765 205 216 370 446 168 104 370 399 372 366

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: May 03, 2013