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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey

See also other file formats and annual average tables or tables for other years.

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
2022 2023 16 to 24
years
25 to 54
years
55 years
and over
Men Women
2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023

Total not in the labor force

99,686 99,826 16,864 17,210 22,325 21,400 60,497 61,215 41,197 41,599 58,490 58,227

Do not want a job now(1)

94,047 94,496 15,292 15,574 19,865 19,172 58,891 59,749 38,506 39,072 55,541 55,424

Want a job(1)

5,639 5,330 1,573 1,636 2,460 2,228 1,606 1,466 2,691 2,527 2,948 2,803

Did not search for work in previous year

3,500 3,277 929 943 1,405 1,280 1,166 1,054 1,636 1,514 1,864 1,763

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

2,139 2,053 644 693 1,055 948 440 412 1,055 1,013 1,084 1,040

Not available to work now

656 595 239 253 320 252 97 90 273 261 382 333

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

1,484 1,458 405 440 735 696 343 322 782 752 702 706

Discouraged over job
prospects(4)

407 370 97 101 204 186 106 83 254 226 153 144

Reasons other than discouragement

1,077 1,088 308 339 531 510 237 239 528 526 549 562

Family responsibilities

171 151 23 17 112 102 36 31 58 56 114 95

In school or training

132 146 106 115 23 28 3 3 66 71 66 75

Ill health or disability

140 124 17 16 67 52 56 56 67 55 73 69

Other(5)

633 667 161 191 329 327 143 149 337 344 296 323

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: January 26, 2024