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

Total not in the labor force

 93,262 93,621 15,703 15,447 23,838 23,347 53,721 54,827 36,638 37,245 56,625 56,376

Do not want a job now(1)

 87,162 87,895 13,608 13,602 21,374 21,053 52,180 53,240 33,874 34,597 53,288 53,299

Want a job(1)

 6,101 5,725 2,096 1,844 2,464 2,294 1,541 1,587 2,764 2,648 3,336 3,077

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,538 3,537 1,181 1,208 1,276 1,225 1,082 1,105 1,541 1,553 1,997 1,984

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

 2,562 2,188 915 637 1,188 1,069 459 483 1,223 1,095 1,340 1,093

Not available to work now

 784 606 342 270 357 259 85 77 326 252 458 354

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,779 1,582 573 367 831 810 375 406 897 843 882 739

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 502 514 132 90 232 248 139 176 294 340 208 174

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,277 1,069 441 277 600 562 236 230 603 503 674 565

Family responsibilities

 204 210 28 16 139 152 37 41 66 69 138 141

In school or training

 218 122 189 99 29 22 0 0 126 60 92 62

Ill health or disability

 110 152 15 19 41 67 54 66 67 58 43 94

Other(5)

 745 586 209 143 391 320 144 123 343 317 402 269

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: July 07, 2017