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
Jan.
2018		 Jan.
2019		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Jan.
2018		 Jan.
2019		 Jan.
2018		 Jan.
2019		 Jan.
2018		 Jan.
2019		 Jan.
2018		 Jan.
2019		 Jan.
2018		 Jan.
2019

Total not in the labor force

 96,743 96,135 17,533 17,476 23,115 22,157 56,095 56,502 39,048 39,060 57,695 57,075

Do not want a job now(1)

 91,379 90,700 15,984 15,812 20,737 19,930 54,659 54,959 36,621 36,451 54,758 54,250

Want a job(1)

 5,364 5,435 1,549 1,664 2,378 2,228 1,437 1,543 2,427 2,610 2,937 2,825

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,165 3,309 833 1,027 1,355 1,173 977 1,109 1,276 1,610 1,889 1,699

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

 2,199 2,126 717 637 1,023 1,054 460 434 1,151 1,000 1,048 1,126

Not available to work now

 547 511 203 192 292 255 52 64 235 198 312 313

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,653 1,614 514 445 731 799 408 370 917 802 736 813

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 451 426 88 101 223 232 140 93 282 240 169 186

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,202 1,188 426 344 508 567 269 277 635 561 567 627

Family responsibilities

 158 182 18 22 113 122 27 38 24 44 134 139

In school or training

 210 174 187 135 17 38 6 2 126 86 84 89

Ill health or disability

 149 159 23 15 51 43 75 101 75 100 73 59

Other(5)

 686 672 198 172 327 364 161 136 410 332 276 340

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: February 01, 2019