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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Current Population Survey > Home

See also other file formats and annual average tables or tables for other years.

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
2023 2024 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024

Total not in the labor force

 99,826 100,465 17,210 17,195 21,400 21,120 61,215 62,151 41,599 41,965 58,227 58,500

Do not want a job now(1)

 94,496 94,875 15,574 15,492 19,172 18,824 59,749 60,559 39,072 39,296 55,424 55,579

Want a job(1)

 5,330 5,590 1,636 1,703 2,228 2,296 1,466 1,592 2,527 2,669 2,803 2,921

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,277 3,375 943 980 1,280 1,248 1,054 1,147 1,514 1,559 1,763 1,816

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

 2,053 2,216 693 722 948 1,048 412 445 1,013 1,111 1,040 1,105

Not available to work now

 595 658 253 255 252 313 90 90 261 282 333 375

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,458 1,558 440 468 696 735 322 355 752 828 706 729

Discouraged over job
prospects(4)

 370 408 101 103 186 204 83 101 226 243 144 165

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,088 1,150 339 364 510 531 239 254 526 586 562 564

Family responsibilities

 151 165 17 23 102 99 31 42 56 56 95 109

In school or training

 146 173 115 131 28 39 3 3 71 94 75 79

Ill health or disability

 124 142 16 18 52 59 56 64 55 71 69 71

Other(5)

 667 669 191 191 327 334 149 144 344 364 323 305

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 29, 2025