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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
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
2012 2013 16 to 24
years
25 to 54
years
55 years
and over
Men Women
2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013

Total not in the labor force

88,310 90,290 17,499 17,458 23,061 23,630 47,750 49,201 35,017 35,889 53,293 54,401

Do not want a job now(1)

81,752 83,901 15,383 15,362 20,248 20,898 46,120 47,641 31,989 32,947 49,763 50,953

Want a job(1)

6,558 6,390 2,115 2,096 2,813 2,733 1,630 1,561 3,028 2,941 3,530 3,448

Did not search for work in previous year

3,390 3,402 1,064 1,079 1,328 1,327 998 996 1,490 1,479 1,900 1,923

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

3,168 2,988 1,052 1,017 1,484 1,406 632 565 1,537 1,463 1,630 1,525

Not available to work now

651 628 282 286 288 272 82 70 253 239 399 390

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

2,516 2,360 770 731 1,196 1,134 550 495 1,285 1,224 1,232 1,135

Discouraged over job
prospects(4)

909 861 217 213 451 431 241 218 541 510 368 351

Reasons other than discouragement

1,608 1,498 553 518 746 703 309 277 743 714 864 784

Family responsibilities

229 229 33 33 147 148 49 48 61 61 168 169

In school or training

339 294 257 234 73 56 9 4 175 159 164 135

Ill health or disability

168 151 18 18 83 74 66 58 80 74 87 77

Other(5)

871 823 245 232 442 425 185 166 427 420 444 403

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 26, 2014