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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
Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2020		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2020		 Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2020		 Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2020		 Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2020		 Feb.
2019		 Feb.
2020

Total not in the labor force

 95,599 95,393 17,424 16,775 22,015 21,328 56,161 57,290 38,909 38,979 56,690 56,415

Do not want a job now(1)

 90,403 90,420 15,856 15,419 19,901 19,194 54,646 55,807 36,301 36,452 54,102 53,968

Want a job(1)

 5,196 4,973 1,568 1,356 2,114 2,134 1,515 1,483 2,608 2,526 2,588 2,447

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,207 2,915 903 733 1,219 1,133 1,085 1,049 1,520 1,446 1,687 1,469

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

 1,989 2,058 665 623 894 1,001 430 434 1,088 1,080 901 978

Not available to work now

 565 564 209 233 279 252 77 79 278 293 287 272

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,424 1,494 456 391 615 748 353 355 810 788 614 707

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 428 421 107 106 220 204 100 111 301 260 127 161

Reasons other than discouragement

 996 1,073 349 285 395 545 253 244 509 528 487 545

Family responsibilities

 125 110 19 18 77 67 30 24 43 12 83 98

In school or training

 161 157 135 113 16 44 11 1 80 61 81 96

Ill health or disability

 149 113 12 19 71 46 66 48 97 57 52 56

Other(5)

 561 692 184 134 231 387 146 171 290 398 271 295

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: March 06, 2020