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

Total not in the labor force

98,822 98,891 15,221 15,815 22,778 21,454 60,823 61,622 40,624 40,905 58,198 57,986

Do not want a job now(1)

92,722 93,045 13,158 13,721 20,337 19,237 59,226 60,087 37,738 38,223 54,984 54,822

Want a job(1)

6,100 5,846 2,062 2,094 2,441 2,217 1,597 1,535 2,886 2,682 3,214 3,164

Did not search for work in previous year

3,823 3,653 1,227 1,281 1,404 1,278 1,192 1,094 1,742 1,576 2,081 2,076

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

2,277 2,193 835 813 1,037 939 406 441 1,144 1,106 1,133 1,087

Not available to work now

737 714 349 324 272 288 116 102 336 347 401 367

Marginally attached (available to work now)(3)

1,541 1,479 486 489 765 651 290 339 808 759 733 721

Discouraged over job prospects(4)

386 320 132 97 168 174 86 49 243 185 143 134

Reasons other than discouragement

1,154 1,159 354 392 596 478 204 290 565 573 590 586

Family responsibilities

198 205 11 24 120 123 66 58 95 76 103 129

In school or training

134 121 115 96 19 13 0 13 71 62 63 60

Ill health or disability

149 153 19 24 86 68 43 62 58 70 91 83

Other(5)

674 680 208 249 371 274 94 157 341 366 333 314

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: August 29, 2024