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
2017 2018 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018

Total not in the labor force

 94,759 95,716 16,989 17,020 23,014 22,685 54,756 56,010 38,130 38,582 56,629 57,134

Do not want a job now(1)

 89,242 90,467 15,335 15,430 20,732 20,513 53,175 54,524 35,591 36,133 53,650 54,334

Want a job(1)

 5,518 5,249 1,655 1,590 2,282 2,172 1,581 1,487 2,539 2,448 2,979 2,800

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,320 3,161 953 925 1,281 1,195 1,086 1,040 1,450 1,399 1,870 1,762

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

 2,198 2,088 702 665 1,001 977 495 447 1,089 1,049 1,109 1,039

Not available to work now

 610 571 263 232 258 267 90 72 254 232 357 338

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,587 1,517 439 433 743 709 405 375 835 817 752 700

Discouraged over job
prospects(4)

 476 423 115 93 223 211 138 120 299 266 177 158

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,112 1,094 324 340 519 499 268 255 536 551 575 542

Family responsibilities

 188 173 23 25 121 114 44 35 53 50 135 123

In school or training

 187 184 141 144 41 36 6 4 103 99 84 85

Ill health or disability

 139 152 13 16 54 64 71 72 68 85 71 67

Other(5)

 598 584 147 156 304 285 147 143 312 317 286 267

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 18, 2019