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
Feb.
2013		 Feb.
2014		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Feb.
2013		 Feb.
2014		 Feb.
2013		 Feb.
2014		 Feb.
2013		 Feb.
2014		 Feb.
2013		 Feb.
2014		 Feb.
2013		 Feb.
2014

Total not in the labor force

 90,100 92,058 18,153 18,376 23,593 23,535 48,354 50,147 35,937 37,352 54,163 54,707

Do not want a job now(1)

 83,258 85,968 15,976 16,394 20,581 20,900 46,701 48,673 32,807 34,368 50,451 51,600

Want a job(1)

 6,842 6,091 2,176 1,981 3,013 2,635 1,653 1,474 3,131 2,984 3,712 3,107

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,578 3,216 1,040 991 1,465 1,267 1,073 958 1,544 1,445 2,034 1,771

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

 3,264 2,875 1,136 991 1,548 1,368 580 516 1,587 1,539 1,678 1,336

Not available to work now

 676 572 328 269 266 240 82 62 242 244 434 328

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 2,588 2,303 809 721 1,281 1,128 498 454 1,344 1,295 1,244 1,008

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 885 755 240 213 438 380 207 163 527 466 358 289

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,704 1,548 569 508 843 749 292 291 817 829 886 719

Family responsibilities

 278 251 32 28 204 178 42 46 82 77 196 174

In school or training

 374 275 301 231 70 44 3 0 174 184 200 92

Ill health or disability

 231 173 18 19 120 89 93 66 111 82 120 92

Other(5)

 820 848 218 230 449 438 154 180 450 486 371 362

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: March 07, 2014