HOUSEHOLD DATA
NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
A-38. Persons not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex [In thousands]
Category Total Age Sex
Mar.
2017		 Mar.
2018		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Mar.
2017		 Mar.
2018		 Mar.
2017		 Mar.
2018		 Mar.
2017		 Mar.
2018		 Mar.
2017		 Mar.
2018		 Mar.
2017		 Mar.
2018

Total not in the labor force

 94,502 95,549 17,458 17,294 22,898 22,536 54,146 55,719 38,227 38,407 56,275 57,142

Do not want a job now(1)

 88,994 90,757 15,734 15,866 20,680 20,614 52,580 54,276 35,614 36,136 53,381 54,621

Want a job(1)

 5,507 4,793 1,724 1,428 2,218 1,922 1,566 1,443 2,613 2,272 2,894 2,521

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,308 2,817 1,009 735 1,235 1,088 1,064 993 1,528 1,293 1,780 1,524

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

 2,200 1,976 715 692 983 834 502 450 1,085 979 1,115 997

Not available to work now

 604 522 274 217 233 233 97 72 281 209 323 313

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,595 1,454 441 475 750 601 404 378 804 770 791 684

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 460 450 95 116 222 207 143 128 246 271 214 179

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,135 1,004 346 360 528 394 262 250 558 498 578 506

Family responsibilities

 201 113 20 28 113 50 67 35 56 22 145 92

In school or training

 230 200 169 164 62 33 0 3 116 119 114 81

Ill health or disability

 129 172 15 14 49 69 64 89 57 84 72 87

Other(5)

 576 519 142 154 304 241 130 123 329 273 247 246

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: April 06, 2018