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

Total not in the labor force

 95,483 96,043 17,567 17,550 22,707 22,252 55,210 56,241 38,764 39,163 56,719 56,880

Do not want a job now(1)

 90,606 90,983 16,221 16,182 20,572 20,015 53,812 54,786 36,503 36,703 54,103 54,279

Want a job(1)

 4,877 5,060 1,346 1,368 2,134 2,237 1,397 1,455 2,261 2,460 2,616 2,600

Did not search for work in previous year

 2,914 2,923 712 757 1,214 1,110 988 1,055 1,267 1,328 1,647 1,594

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

 1,963 2,138 634 611 920 1,128 409 399 994 1,131 969 1,006

Not available to work now

 482 460 180 159 249 245 53 55 224 185 258 275

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,481 1,678 454 451 671 882 356 344 770 946 710 731

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 469 453 134 95 214 265 121 93 292 294 176 159

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,012 1,225 319 356 457 618 235 251 478 652 534 573

Family responsibilities

 174 181 30 18 103 126 40 38 45 52 129 129

In school or training

 147 188 117 147 28 37 3 4 82 108 65 80

Ill health or disability

 134 223 12 35 59 124 63 65 86 162 48 62

Other(5)

 557 633 161 156 266 332 130 145 265 331 293 302

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: December 07, 2018