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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Current Population Survey > Home
HOUSEHOLD DATA
ANNUAL AVERAGES
35. Persons not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex
[In thousands]
Category Total Age Sex
2010 2011 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

Total not in the labor force

 83,941 86,001 17,014 17,201 22,350 22,961 44,577 45,839 33,189 34,343 50,752 51,658

Do not want a job now(1)

 77,882 79,564 14,990 15,177 19,659 20,107 43,233 44,280 30,309 31,298 47,573 48,266

Want a job(1)

 6,059 6,437 2,024 2,023 2,691 2,854 1,344 1,560 2,880 3,045 3,179 3,392

Did not search for work in previous year

 2,948 3,268 968 1,010 1,189 1,303 791 955 1,279 1,463 1,669 1,804

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

 3,111 3,169 1,056 1,014 1,502 1,551 553 605 1,601 1,582 1,510 1,587

Not available to work now

 623 597 274 262 284 262 65 73 264 236 359 361

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 2,487 2,573 782 752 1,218 1,289 487 532 1,337 1,346 1,151 1,227

Discouraged over job
prospects(4)

 1,173 989 291 222 595 519 287 248 731 579 442 410

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,315 1,584 491 530 623 770 200 284 606 767 709 817

Family responsibilities

 286 215 49 30 171 139 66 45 83 48 203 166

In school or training

 350 323 262 245 81 75 7 4 191 183 158 140

Ill health or disability

 50 169 4 18 21 93 25 58 21 86 29 83

Other(5)

 629 877 176 238 350 463 102 177 311 449 318 428

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: March 1, 2012