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

Total not in the labor force

 89,221 91,521 17,825 17,973 23,271 23,541 48,125 50,006 35,501 36,614 53,720 54,907

Do not want a job now(1)

 82,726 86,084 15,758 16,240 20,564 21,219 46,404 48,625 32,473 34,052 50,253 52,033

Want a job(1)

 6,495 5,437 2,067 1,734 2,707 2,322 1,722 1,381 3,028 2,562 3,467 2,874

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,347 2,905 960 870 1,249 1,125 1,138 909 1,526 1,325 1,821 1,580

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

 3,148 2,532 1,107 864 1,458 1,196 583 472 1,502 1,237 1,646 1,295

Not available to work now

 643 436 254 182 303 204 86 50 235 157 408 278

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 2,505 2,096 853 681 1,155 993 497 422 1,267 1,080 1,238 1,016

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 979 762 292 208 433 365 254 189 556 471 422 290

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,526 1,334 561 474 722 628 243 233 711 609 816 726

Family responsibilities

 206 238 37 30 118 166 51 42 56 51 150 187

In school or training

 345 260 284 219 59 36 3 5 191 150 154 110

Ill health or disability

 174 118 20 22 103 43 51 53 69 53 105 65

Other(5)

 801 718 221 203 442 383 138 133 394 355 407 363

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: December 06, 2013