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

Total not in the labor force

 92,338 93,506 18,149 17,941 23,935 23,912 50,253 51,652 37,118 37,501 55,220 56,005

Do not want a job now(1)

 86,406 87,294 16,375 16,045 21,226 21,336 48,804 49,913 34,337 34,517 52,069 52,777

Want a job(1)

 5,932 6,212 1,773 1,896 2,709 2,576 1,450 1,739 2,781 2,984 3,151 3,227

Did not search for work in previous year

 2,997 3,309 854 946 1,248 1,296 895 1,067 1,359 1,549 1,639 1,760

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

 2,935 2,903 919 950 1,461 1,281 554 672 1,422 1,435 1,512 1,467

Not available to work now

 507 643 209 280 241 259 57 104 186 267 321 376

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 2,427 2,260 710 670 1,220 1,021 497 568 1,236 1,169 1,191 1,091

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 917 740 238 167 454 343 225 230 524 441 394 299

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,510 1,520 472 503 766 679 272 338 712 727 798 792

Family responsibilities

 268 252 23 40 203 168 42 44 68 72 200 180

In school or training

 246 279 199 223 40 54 7 2 119 160 127 119

Ill health or disability

 129 180 12 30 87 83 30 67 72 121 57 59

Other(5)

 867 809 238 210 436 373 193 226 454 374 413 435

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: January 09, 2015