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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
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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.
2018		 Oct.
2019		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Oct.
2018		 Oct.
2019		 Oct.
2018		 Oct.
2019		 Oct.
2018		 Oct.
2019		 Oct.
2018		 Oct.
2019		 Oct.
2018		 Oct.
2019

Total not in the labor force

 95,792 95,269 17,401 16,766 22,130 21,386 56,261 57,116 38,960 38,863 56,832 56,406

Do not want a job now(1)

 90,744 90,857 15,953 15,598 20,084 19,514 54,707 55,745 36,662 36,769 54,082 54,088

Want a job(1)

 5,048 4,412 1,448 1,168 2,046 1,872 1,554 1,371 2,298 2,093 2,750 2,318

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,059 2,768 890 689 1,079 1,082 1,090 997 1,283 1,256 1,776 1,512

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

 1,989 1,643 557 479 967 791 464 374 1,015 837 974 807

Not available to work now

 498 415 174 174 249 187 74 54 192 169 306 246

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,491 1,229 383 305 718 604 390 319 823 668 668 561

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 506 341 107 46 257 180 143 116 314 227 192 114

Reasons other than discouragement

 984 888 276 260 461 425 247 204 509 441 476 447

Family responsibilities

 182 148 50 21 108 103 24 24 60 55 122 93

In school or training

 143 129 108 104 23 22 12 3 86 79 57 50

Ill health or disability

 146 126 13 13 38 79 96 33 91 62 55 63

Other(5)

 513 486 106 122 292 221 116 144 271 245 242 241

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: November 01, 2019