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

Total not in the labor force

 95,992 96,596 17,614 17,476 22,759 22,405 55,619 56,715 38,453 39,087 57,539 57,510

Do not want a job now(1)

 90,982 91,645 16,062 16,040 20,766 20,377 54,155 55,228 36,159 36,666 54,823 54,979

Want a job(1)

 5,010 4,951 1,552 1,436 1,993 2,028 1,465 1,487 2,294 2,420 2,716 2,531

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,055 2,892 901 775 1,102 1,140 1,052 978 1,341 1,368 1,714 1,524

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

 1,955 2,059 651 662 892 888 413 509 953 1,052 1,002 1,007

Not available to work now

 593 642 294 331 236 221 63 90 248 310 345 332

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,362 1,417 358 331 655 667 349 419 706 742 657 674

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 408 454 90 93 228 228 89 134 242 288 165 166

Reasons other than discouragement

 955 963 267 238 428 439 260 285 463 455 491 508

Family responsibilities

 132 145 10 13 85 86 37 46 38 32 95 113

In school or training

 175 147 121 136 44 10 9 2 94 68 81 79

Ill health or disability

 133 106 34 10 60 57 39 39 81 41 52 65

Other(5)

 515 565 102 79 238 286 175 199 250 314 265 251

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: May 03, 2019