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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
CPS CPS Program Links
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.
2020		 Mar.
2021		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Mar.
2020		 Mar.
2021		 Mar.
2020		 Mar.
2021		 Mar.
2020		 Mar.
2021		 Mar.
2020		 Mar.
2021		 Mar.
2020		 Mar.
2021

Total not in the labor force

 97,221 100,606 17,437 17,193 21,801 23,245 57,983 60,168 39,725 41,538 57,496 59,067

Do not want a job now(1)

 92,006 94,030 16,025 15,523 19,333 20,075 56,648 58,432 37,166 38,369 54,840 55,660

Want a job(1)

 5,215 6,576 1,412 1,670 2,467 3,170 1,335 1,736 2,559 3,169 2,656 3,407

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,321 4,177 877 1,057 1,476 1,875 968 1,245 1,539 1,984 1,782 2,192

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

 1,894 2,399 535 613 992 1,296 367 491 1,020 1,185 874 1,214

Not available to work now

 514 616 178 190 271 358 65 68 276 271 238 346

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,380 1,783 358 423 721 937 302 423 744 914 636 869

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 514 488 140 65 282 296 93 128 302 282 212 207

Reasons other than discouragement

 866 1,295 218 358 439 642 209 295 442 633 424 662

Family responsibilities

 74 84 5 9 61 58 8 17 38 15 36 69

In school or training

 114 160 87 113 27 40 0 7 46 84 68 76

Ill health or disability

 119 138 4 19 29 86 86 33 60 61 58 76

Other(5)

 560 913 122 217 323 458 116 238 298 472 262 441

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: April 02, 2021