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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
Oct.
2022		 Oct.
2023		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Oct.
2022		 Oct.
2023		 Oct.
2022		 Oct.
2023		 Oct.
2022		 Oct.
2023		 Oct.
2022		 Oct.
2023		 Oct.
2022		 Oct.
2023

Total not in the labor force

 99,782 99,868 17,157 17,410 21,999 21,154 60,626 61,304 41,212 42,087 58,570 57,781

Do not want a job now(1)

 94,441 94,830 15,831 15,969 19,620 19,044 58,990 59,817 38,594 39,637 55,847 55,193

Want a job(1)

 5,341 5,037 1,325 1,441 2,379 2,110 1,636 1,487 2,618 2,449 2,723 2,588

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,323 3,045 735 782 1,411 1,219 1,178 1,044 1,625 1,480 1,698 1,565

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

 2,018 1,993 591 659 969 891 458 443 992 969 1,025 1,023

Not available to work now

 548 602 162 259 309 257 78 85 206 245 342 357

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,469 1,391 429 399 660 634 381 358 786 724 683 667

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 373 428 114 131 181 202 79 95 261 238 112 190

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,096 963 315 268 479 432 302 263 525 486 571 477

Family responsibilities

 178 102 27 1 77 96 73 4 42 37 136 64

In school or training

 164 148 140 100 19 38 6 9 60 77 104 71

Ill health or disability

 111 80 17 0 55 24 40 56 50 24 61 55

Other(5)

 642 634 131 166 329 273 182 195 372 348 270 286

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: November 03, 2023