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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
HOUSEHOLD DATA
NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
A-38. People not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex [In thousands]
Category Total Age Sex
Apr.
2025		 Apr.
2026		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Apr.
2025		 Apr.
2026		 Apr.
2025		 Apr.
2026		 Apr.
2025		 Apr.
2026		 Apr.
2025		 Apr.
2026		 Apr.
2025		 Apr.
2026

Total not in the labor force

 102,547 105,406 18,026 18,387 21,390 20,948 63,130 66,071 42,810 43,958 59,737 61,448

Do not want a job now(1)

 97,013 99,450 16,195 16,428 19,195 18,554 61,622 64,468 40,185 41,190 56,828 58,260

Want a job(1)

 5,534 5,956 1,831 1,959 2,195 2,394 1,508 1,603 2,625 2,769 2,909 3,187

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,205 3,344 934 1,025 1,195 1,180 1,075 1,139 1,430 1,499 1,775 1,845

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

 2,329 2,612 897 934 1,000 1,214 432 464 1,195 1,270 1,134 1,342

Not available to work now

 758 880 368 461 296 327 93 92 374 355 384 525

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,571 1,732 529 473 703 887 339 372 821 915 750 817

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 422 478 108 100 220 262 93 116 241 269 181 209

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,149 1,254 420 373 483 625 246 256 580 646 569 608

Family responsibilities

 150 215 39 20 89 128 23 67 68 62 82 153

In school or training

 201 199 167 137 28 57 5 4 93 105 108 94

Ill health or disability

 155 104 10 13 67 57 78 35 60 59 95 45

Other(5)

 643 736 204 203 299 383 140 149 359 420 284 316

Footnotes
(1) Includes some people who are not asked if they want a job, such as passive jobseekers.
(2) People who had a job in the prior 12 months must have searched since the end of that job.
(3) People "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 people 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: May 08, 2026