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
Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2018		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2018		 Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2018		 Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2018		 Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2018		 Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2018

Total not in the labor force

 94,494 96,157 16,159 16,893 23,322 23,058 55,013 56,205 37,780 38,604 56,713 57,553

Do not want a job now(1)

 88,641 90,622 14,546 15,212 20,747 20,764 53,348 54,646 35,242 36,035 53,399 54,587

Want a job(1)

 5,852 5,534 1,613 1,681 2,574 2,295 1,665 1,558 2,538 2,568 3,315 2,966

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,625 3,493 951 1,025 1,475 1,373 1,199 1,095 1,441 1,561 2,183 1,932

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

 2,228 2,041 662 656 1,099 922 466 464 1,096 1,007 1,131 1,034

Not available to work now

 679 598 240 183 336 327 103 89 265 224 415 374

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,548 1,443 422 473 763 595 363 375 832 783 717 660

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 448 434 130 113 170 184 148 137 318 279 129 155

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,101 1,009 292 360 593 411 215 238 513 504 587 505

Family responsibilities

 198 103 26 27 133 56 38 20 64 25 134 78

In school or training

 173 185 90 157 83 20 0 9 79 70 94 115

Ill health or disability

 102 143 14 5 39 70 49 69 35 79 67 64

Other(5)

 628 577 163 171 337 265 128 141 335 330 293 247

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: September 07, 2018