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

Total not in the labor force

 96,174 101,213 17,223 17,338 21,506 23,877 57,444 59,998 39,352 41,723 56,822 59,490

Do not want a job now(1)

 91,531 94,125 15,895 15,614 19,618 20,458 56,018 58,054 37,016 38,335 54,515 55,790

Want a job(1)

 4,643 7,088 1,328 1,724 1,889 3,419 1,426 1,945 2,336 3,388 2,307 3,699

Did not search for work in previous year

 2,858 4,234 792 1,050 1,057 1,850 1,009 1,334 1,388 1,991 1,470 2,243

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

 1,785 2,854 536 673 832 1,569 417 611 948 1,397 837 1,457

Not available to work now

 540 656 221 161 238 400 81 96 260 246 280 411

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,246 2,197 315 513 594 1,170 336 515 688 1,151 558 1,046

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 277 661 84 149 104 377 89 136 172 418 105 243

Reasons other than discouragement

 969 1,536 231 364 491 793 247 379 516 733 452 803

Family responsibilities

 191 188 31 27 122 115 38 46 63 70 128 118

In school or training

 138 129 75 94 55 27 8 8 71 55 68 74

Ill health or disability

 89 137 5 16 51 65 33 56 57 83 32 54

Other(5)

 550 1,082 120 227 262 586 168 269 325 525 224 557

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: January 08, 2021