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
Feb.
2018		 Feb.
2019		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Feb.
2018		 Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2018		 Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2018		 Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2018		 Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2018		 Feb.
2019

Total not in the labor force

 95,439 95,599 17,348 17,424 22,507 22,015 55,585 56,161 38,444 38,909 56,996 56,690

Do not want a job now(1)

 90,288 90,403 15,786 15,856 20,271 19,901 54,230 54,646 36,060 36,301 54,228 54,102

Want a job(1)

 5,152 5,196 1,561 1,568 2,235 2,114 1,355 1,515 2,384 2,608 2,768 2,588

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,013 3,207 862 903 1,235 1,219 916 1,085 1,336 1,520 1,677 1,687

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

 2,139 1,989 700 665 1,000 894 439 430 1,048 1,088 1,091 901

Not available to work now

 536 565 238 209 259 279 40 77 206 278 330 287

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,602 1,424 462 456 741 615 399 353 841 810 761 614

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 373 428 86 107 192 220 94 100 224 301 148 127

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,230 996 376 349 549 395 305 253 617 509 613 487

Family responsibilities

 279 125 44 19 182 77 53 30 87 43 192 83

In school or training

 176 161 147 135 29 16 0 11 105 80 71 81

Ill health or disability

 182 149 14 12 53 71 116 66 96 97 86 52

Other(5)

 592 561 171 184 285 231 136 146 329 290 263 271

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: March 08, 2019