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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
Mar.
2024		 Mar.
2025		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Mar.
2024		 Mar.
2025		 Mar.
2024		 Mar.
2025		 Mar.
2024		 Mar.
2025		 Mar.
2024		 Mar.
2025		 Mar.
2024		 Mar.
2025

Total not in the labor force

 99,924 102,369 17,304 17,743 21,022 21,479 61,597 63,147 41,713 42,857 58,211 59,512

Do not want a job now(1)

 94,814 96,769 15,871 16,030 18,759 19,025 60,184 61,714 39,160 40,173 55,654 56,596

Want a job(1)

 5,110 5,600 1,433 1,713 2,264 2,454 1,413 1,433 2,552 2,684 2,557 2,916

Did not search for work in previous year

 2,978 3,346 782 983 1,154 1,281 1,042 1,082 1,391 1,578 1,587 1,768

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

 2,132 2,254 652 730 1,110 1,173 371 351 1,162 1,106 971 1,148

Not available to work now

 693 715 249 342 386 301 59 72 326 310 367 405

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,439 1,539 403 388 724 872 312 279 835 796 604 743

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 286 458 97 120 134 256 55 81 195 276 91 182

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,152 1,082 305 268 590 616 257 198 640 521 512 561

Family responsibilities

 174 133 39 8 108 82 26 43 63 43 110 89

In school or training

 154 133 106 102 42 26 6 5 78 71 77 62

Ill health or disability

 132 136 19 12 50 91 63 33 90 76 42 60

Other(5)

 692 680 141 146 389 416 162 117 409 330 283 350

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: April 04, 2025