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

Total not in the labor force

 96,157 95,413 16,893 16,028 23,058 22,281 56,205 57,104 38,604 38,326 57,553 57,087

Do not want a job now(1)

 90,622 90,082 15,212 14,574 20,764 19,966 54,646 55,542 36,035 35,974 54,587 54,108

Want a job(1)

 5,534 5,331 1,681 1,453 2,295 2,316 1,558 1,562 2,568 2,353 2,966 2,978

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,493 3,248 1,025 862 1,373 1,318 1,095 1,067 1,561 1,333 1,932 1,915

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

 2,041 2,083 656 591 922 998 464 494 1,007 1,020 1,034 1,063

Not available to work now

 598 519 183 152 327 286 89 82 224 177 374 342

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,443 1,564 473 439 595 712 375 413 783 843 660 721

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 434 467 113 101 184 235 137 131 279 315 155 152

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,009 1,097 360 338 411 477 238 282 504 528 505 569

Family responsibilities

 103 134 27 27 56 84 20 23 25 40 78 93

In school or training

 185 128 157 106 20 15 9 7 70 79 115 50

Ill health or disability

 143 143 5 19 70 60 69 64 79 66 64 76

Other(5)

 577 692 171 185 265 318 141 189 330 343 247 349

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: September 06, 2019