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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
Feb.
2023
Feb.
2024
16 to 24
years
25 to 54
years
55 years
and over
Men Women
Feb.
2023
Feb.
2024
Feb.
2023
Feb.
2024
Feb.
2023
Feb.
2024
Feb.
2023
Feb.
2024
Feb.
2023
Feb.
2024

Total not in the labor force

99,934 100,426 17,518 17,762 21,467 21,018 60,949 61,646 41,689 42,221 58,245 58,205

Do not want a job now(1)

94,947 94,880 16,174 16,070 19,206 18,750 59,567 60,060 39,175 39,600 55,772 55,280

Want a job(1)

4,987 5,546 1,344 1,691 2,260 2,269 1,382 1,586 2,514 2,621 2,472 2,925

Did not search for work in previous year

3,104 3,308 802 887 1,322 1,301 980 1,120 1,557 1,545 1,547 1,763

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

1,883 2,238 542 805 939 967 402 466 957 1,076 925 1,162

Not available to work now

463 679 203 250 208 319 53 110 187 284 276 395

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

1,420 1,559 339 554 731 649 350 357 771 792 649 767

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

361 425 59 144 199 172 103 108 202 245 159 180

Reasons other than discouragement

1,059 1,135 280 410 532 477 247 248 569 548 490 587

Family responsibilities

143 129 8 15 104 84 31 29 76 65 68 64

In school or training

112 190 94 152 18 37 0 0 68 72 44 118

Ill health or disability

138 156 8 19 61 66 69 72 81 79 58 77

Other(5)

665 661 170 224 348 290 147 147 345 332 320 328

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: March 08, 2024