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
Aug.
2015		 Aug.
2016		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Aug.
2015		 Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2015		 Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2015		 Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2015		 Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2015		 Aug.
2016

Total not in the labor force

 93,706 94,054 16,588 16,325 24,292 23,686 52,826 54,044 37,253 37,240 56,453 56,814

Do not want a job now(1)

 87,786 88,230 14,849 14,620 21,674 21,187 51,263 52,423 34,664 34,623 53,121 53,606

Want a job(1)

 5,920 5,824 1,740 1,704 2,618 2,499 1,563 1,621 2,589 2,616 3,331 3,208

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,438 3,498 959 984 1,390 1,427 1,089 1,087 1,360 1,498 2,079 2,000

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

 2,482 2,326 781 721 1,227 1,072 474 534 1,229 1,119 1,253 1,208

Not available to work now

 670 613 230 212 334 322 106 79 263 203 407 410

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,812 1,713 551 508 893 751 368 454 967 916 846 797

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 624 576 182 143 279 219 163 215 391 349 234 227

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,188 1,137 368 365 614 532 205 239 576 567 612 570

Family responsibilities

 215 144 27 16 134 92 53 36 74 33 140 111

In school or training

 176 192 125 147 51 40 0 6 100 92 76 101

Ill health or disability

 159 118 18 15 97 54 44 49 64 66 95 53

Other(5)

 638 682 198 188 331 347 109 148 337 376 301 306

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: September 02, 2016