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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
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
Dec.
2021		 Dec.
2022		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Dec.
2021		 Dec.
2022		 Dec.
2021		 Dec.
2022		 Dec.
2021		 Dec.
2022		 Dec.
2021		 Dec.
2022		 Dec.
2021		 Dec.
2022

Total not in the labor force

 100,440 100,621 16,883 17,377 22,747 22,287 60,810 60,957 41,493 41,799 58,947 58,821

Do not want a job now(1)

 94,916 95,672 15,534 16,124 20,199 20,129 59,183 59,419 38,735 39,450 56,182 56,222

Want a job(1)

 5,524 4,948 1,349 1,253 2,548 2,157 1,627 1,538 2,759 2,349 2,765 2,600

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,377 3,023 828 666 1,396 1,217 1,152 1,140 1,612 1,393 1,765 1,630

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

 2,147 1,925 520 587 1,152 940 475 398 1,147 955 1,000 970

Not available to work now

 476 665 154 254 276 311 46 100 223 283 253 382

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,671 1,260 366 333 876 630 428 298 924 673 747 587

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 468 421 78 90 251 210 139 121 279 217 189 204

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,203 839 288 243 626 420 289 176 645 456 558 384

Family responsibilities

 170 132 33 11 86 88 51 33 74 62 96 70

In school or training

 171 118 108 108 62 10 1 0 112 76 58 42

Ill health or disability

 131 103 17 8 67 48 46 47 62 56 69 47

Other(5)

 732 486 130 116 411 274 191 96 397 262 335 224

Footnotes
(1) Includes some persons who are not asked if they want a job, such as passive jobseekers.
(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 06, 2023