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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Current Population Survey > Home
HOUSEHOLD DATA
ANNUAL AVERAGES
35. Persons not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex
[In thousands]
Category Total Age Sex
2011 2012 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012

Total not in the labor force

 86,001 88,310 17,201 17,499 22,961 23,061 45,839 47,750 34,343 35,017 51,658 53,293

Do not want a job now(1)

 79,564 81,752 15,177 15,383 20,107 20,248 44,280 46,120 31,298 31,989 48,266 49,763

Want a job(1)

 6,437 6,558 2,023 2,115 2,854 2,813 1,560 1,630 3,045 3,028 3,392 3,530

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,268 3,390 1,010 1,064 1,303 1,328 955 998 1,463 1,490 1,804 1,900

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

 3,169 3,168 1,014 1,052 1,551 1,484 605 632 1,582 1,537 1,587 1,630

Not available to work now

 597 651 262 282 262 288 73 82 236 253 361 399

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 2,573 2,516 752 770 1,289 1,196 532 550 1,346 1,285 1,227 1,232

Discouraged over job
prospects(4)

 989 909 222 217 519 451 248 241 579 541 410 368

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,584 1,608 530 553 770 746 284 309 767 743 817 864

Family responsibilities

 215 229 30 33 139 147 45 49 48 61 166 168

In school or training

 323 339 245 257 75 73 4 9 183 175 140 164

Ill health or disability

 169 168 18 18 93 83 58 66 86 80 83 87

Other(5)

 877 871 238 245 463 442 177 185 449 427 428 444

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: February 5, 2013