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
Sept.
2017		 Sept.
2018		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Sept.
2017		 Sept.
2018		 Sept.
2017		 Sept.
2018		 Sept.
2017		 Sept.
2018		 Sept.
2017		 Sept.
2018		 Sept.
2017		 Sept.
2018

Total not in the labor force

 94,513 96,332 17,106 17,473 22,600 22,707 54,807 56,152 37,999 39,113 56,514 57,220

Do not want a job now(1)

 89,098 91,262 15,552 16,053 20,372 20,596 53,174 54,613 35,506 36,731 53,592 54,531

Want a job(1)

 5,415 5,070 1,554 1,420 2,227 2,111 1,634 1,539 2,494 2,381 2,922 2,689

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,301 2,937 885 797 1,261 1,065 1,155 1,075 1,514 1,375 1,787 1,562

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

 2,114 2,133 669 623 966 1,046 479 464 980 1,006 1,135 1,127

Not available to work now

 545 556 157 148 274 313 114 94 182 174 363 382

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,569 1,577 513 474 692 733 365 370 798 832 772 745

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 421 383 98 87 185 174 138 122 275 223 146 160

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,148 1,194 414 387 506 559 227 248 522 608 625 585

Family responsibilities

 226 159 29 21 152 106 45 31 53 28 173 132

In school or training

 238 205 199 162 37 42 2 0 131 88 107 116

Ill health or disability

 151 159 17 20 49 72 85 66 71 90 80 69

Other(5)

 533 671 168 183 269 338 95 150 268 402 265 269

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: October 05, 2018