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Persons not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex

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	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