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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
Oct.
2023
Oct.
2024
16 to 24
years
25 to 54
years
55 years
and over
Men Women
Oct.
2023
Oct.
2024
Oct.
2023
Oct.
2024
Oct.
2023
Oct.
2024
Oct.
2023
Oct.
2024
Oct.
2023
Oct.
2024

Total not in the labor force

99,868 100,720 17,410 17,586 21,154 21,048 61,304 62,085 42,087 42,008 57,781 58,712

Do not want a job now(1)

94,830 95,389 15,969 16,002 19,044 18,963 59,817 60,425 39,637 39,500 55,193 55,889

Want a job(1)

5,037 5,330 1,441 1,585 2,110 2,085 1,487 1,660 2,449 2,508 2,588 2,823

Did not search for work in previous year

3,045 3,237 782 942 1,219 1,080 1,044 1,215 1,480 1,452 1,565 1,785

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

1,993 2,094 659 643 891 1,005 443 445 969 1,056 1,023 1,038

Not available to work now

602 546 259 187 257 253 85 107 245 227 357 319

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

1,391 1,547 399 457 634 753 358 338 724 829 667 719

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

428 386 131 92 202 177 95 116 238 252 190 134

Reasons other than discouragement

963 1,162 268 364 432 576 263 222 486 577 477 585

Family responsibilities

102 166 1 26 96 96 4 44 37 34 64 133

In school or training

148 183 100 137 38 45 9 0 77 118 71 65

Ill health or disability

80 145 0 26 24 57 56 62 24 66 55 79

Other(5)

634 667 166 175 273 376 195 116 348 360 286 308

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: November 01, 2024