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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
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
Apr.
2023		 Apr.
2024		 16 to 24
years		 25 to 54
years		 55 years
and over		 Men Women
Apr.
2023		 Apr.
2024		 Apr.
2023		 Apr.
2024		 Apr.
2023		 Apr.
2024		 Apr.
2023		 Apr.
2024		 Apr.
2023		 Apr.
2024

Total not in the labor force

 100,222 100,582 17,864 17,482 21,256 21,140 61,103 61,961 41,797 42,222 58,425 58,361

Do not want a job now(1)

 95,077 95,080 16,222 15,730 19,050 18,839 59,805 60,511 39,379 39,505 55,698 55,575

Want a job(1)

 5,145 5,502 1,642 1,752 2,205 2,301 1,298 1,450 2,418 2,717 2,727 2,786

Did not search for work in previous year

 3,123 3,259 907 895 1,267 1,335 949 1,028 1,411 1,671 1,712 1,588

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

 2,022 2,244 736 856 938 966 349 422 1,007 1,046 1,015 1,198

Not available to work now

 562 725 297 389 220 277 45 59 232 275 329 450

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

 1,461 1,519 439 467 717 689 304 363 775 771 686 748

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

 386 380 105 89 178 172 103 119 250 210 136 170

Reasons other than discouragement

 1,075 1,139 334 378 539 517 202 244 524 561 550 578

Family responsibilities

 145 159 18 26 108 105 18 28 64 45 81 114

In school or training

 160 216 121 152 40 58 0 6 93 115 67 102

Ill health or disability

 145 128 24 21 74 52 47 55 51 59 94 70

Other(5)

 625 635 171 179 317 302 137 154 316 342 308 293

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: May 03, 2024