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

Total not in the labor force

 90,483 91,630 18,325 17,820 23,640 23,414 48,519 50,396 36,071 36,809 54,412 54,822

Do not want a job now(1)

 84,084 85,739 16,315 15,966 20,841 20,939 46,929 48,834 33,027 33,967 51,057 51,772

Want a job(1)

 6,399 5,891 2,010 1,854 2,799 2,475 1,590 1,562 3,044 2,841 3,354 3,050

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,417 3,108 994 942 1,404 1,180 1,019 986 1,518 1,456 1,899 1,653

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

 2,982 2,783 1,016 912 1,395 1,295 571 576 1,526 1,386 1,456 1,397

Not available to work now

 656 615 271 269 293 243 92 104 272 241 384 374

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 2,326 2,168 745 643 1,102 1,052 479 473 1,255 1,145 1,072 1,024

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 803 698 188 172 394 344 222 182 512 430 291 269

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,523 1,470 557 472 708 708 258 290 742 715 781 755

Family responsibilities

 175 223 23 39 123 131 29 53 56 72 119 152

In school or training

 381 261 305 217 71 38 5 6 226 145 155 116

Ill health or disability

 148 196 12 11 77 110 58 74 60 78 88 117

Other(5)

 819 790 216 204 437 429 165 157 401 420 418 370

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: April 04, 2014