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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
CPS CPS Program Links
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.
2019		 Aug.
2020		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Aug.
2019		 Aug.
2020		 Aug.
2019		 Aug.
2020		 Aug.
2019		 Aug.
2020		 Aug.
2019		 Aug.
2020		 Aug.
2019		 Aug.
2020

Total not in the labor force

 95,413 99,592 16,028 16,949 22,281 23,754 57,104 58,889 38,326 40,436 57,087 59,156

Do not want a job now(1)

 90,082 92,408 14,574 15,187 19,966 20,333 55,542 56,888 35,974 37,046 54,108 55,362

Want a job(1)

 5,331 7,184 1,453 1,762 2,316 3,421 1,562 2,001 2,353 3,389 2,978 3,795

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,248 4,571 862 974 1,318 2,113 1,067 1,484 1,333 2,091 1,915 2,480

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

 2,083 2,613 591 789 998 1,308 494 516 1,020 1,299 1,063 1,314

Not available to work now

 519 530 152 191 286 259 82 79 177 180 342 350

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,564 2,083 439 597 712 1,049 413 437 843 1,119 721 965

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 467 551 101 118 235 268 131 165 315 350 152 202

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,097 1,532 338 480 477 781 282 272 528 769 569 763

Family responsibilities

 134 105 27 6 84 83 23 16 40 50 93 55

In school or training

 128 123 106 105 15 18 7 0 79 62 50 61

Ill health or disability

 143 161 19 45 60 73 64 43 66 70 76 91

Other(5)

 692 1,143 185 324 318 606 189 213 343 588 349 555

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: September 23, 2020