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

Total not in the labor force

 96,378 96,174 17,539 17,223 22,377 21,506 56,463 57,444 39,370 39,352 57,008 56,822

Do not want a job now(1)

 91,257 91,531 16,176 15,895 20,132 19,618 54,950 56,018 36,856 37,016 54,401 54,515

Want a job(1)

 5,121 4,643 1,363 1,328 2,245 1,889 1,513 1,426 2,514 2,336 2,607 2,307

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,095 2,858 818 792 1,211 1,057 1,065 1,009 1,421 1,388 1,674 1,470

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

 2,026 1,785 545 536 1,034 832 448 417 1,093 948 933 837

Not available to work now

 470 540 170 221 210 238 90 81 215 260 255 280

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,556 1,246 375 315 824 594 357 336 878 688 678 558

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 375 277 64 84 222 104 88 89 232 172 143 105

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,181 969 310 231 602 491 269 247 646 516 535 452

Family responsibilities

 196 191 13 31 156 122 28 38 99 63 97 128

In school or training

 247 138 168 75 70 55 9 8 139 71 109 68

Ill health or disability

 184 89 13 5 82 51 89 33 123 57 62 32

Other(5)

 554 550 117 120 294 262 143 168 286 325 268 224

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: January 10, 2020