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.
2016		 Aug.
2017		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2017		 Aug.
2016		 Aug.
2017

Total not in the labor force

 94,054 94,494 16,325 16,159 23,686 23,322 54,044 55,013 37,240 37,780 56,814 56,713

Do not want a job now(1)

 88,230 88,641 14,620 14,546 21,187 20,747 52,423 53,348 34,623 35,242 53,606 53,399

Want a job(1)

 5,824 5,852 1,704 1,613 2,499 2,574 1,621 1,665 2,616 2,538 3,208 3,315

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,498 3,625 984 951 1,427 1,475 1,087 1,199 1,498 1,441 2,000 2,183

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

 2,326 2,228 721 662 1,072 1,099 534 466 1,119 1,096 1,208 1,131

Not available to work now

 613 679 212 240 322 336 79 103 203 265 410 415

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,713 1,548 508 422 751 763 454 363 916 832 797 717

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 576 448 143 130 219 170 215 148 349 318 227 129

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,137 1,101 365 292 532 593 239 215 567 513 570 587

Family responsibilities

 144 198 16 26 92 133 36 38 33 64 111 134

In school or training

 192 173 147 90 40 83 6 0 92 79 101 94

Ill health or disability

 118 102 15 14 54 39 49 49 66 35 53 67

Other(5)

 682 628 188 163 347 337 148 128 376 335 306 293

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 01, 2017