HOUSEHOLD DATA
ANNUAL AVERAGES

35. Persons not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex

(In thousands)
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                             Total                        Age                                Sex            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                Category                                  16 to 24      25 to 54      55 years        Men          Women    
                                                           years         years        and over                              
                                          1998   1999                                                                       
                                                                                                                            
                                                        1998   1999   1998   1999   1998   1999   1998   1999   1998   1999 
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
Total not in the labor force............ 67,547 68,385 11,343 11,740 18,732 18,785 37,472 37,861 24,799 25,210 42,748 43,175
  Do not want a job now(1).............. 62,735 63,818  9,491  9,938 16,580 16,814 36,664 37,066 22,790 23,307 39,945 40,511
  Want a job(1).........................  4,812  4,568  1,852  1,802  2,152  1,971    807    795  2,008  1,903  2,803  2,665
    Did not search for work in previous                                                                                     
   year.................................  2,859  2,723  1,011    981  1,240  1,144    608    599  1,134  1,083  1,725  1,640
    Searched for work in previous                                                                                           
   year(2)..............................  1,953  1,844    841    822    912    827    200    196    875    820  1,078  1,024
      Not available to work now.........    643    644    332    345    275    258     36     41    250    249    392    395
      Available to work now.............  1,310  1,201    509    477    637    569    164    155    624    571    686    629
        Reason not currently looking:                                                                                       
             Discouragement over job                                                                                        
   prospects(3).........................    331    273    108     86    170    146     53     41    198    161    133    113
          Reasons other than                                                                                                
   discouragement.......................    979    927    401    391    467    423    111    114    427    411    552    517
            Family responsibilities.....    143    132     37     29     93     92     13     11     23     29    120    103
            In school or training.......    206    214    173    176     32     34      1      4    105    110    102    104
            Ill health or disability....    104     97     14     13     69     57     21     26     52     39     52     58
            Other(4)....................    525    485    177    173    273    239     75     73    247    234    278    251

  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 Includes believes no work available, could not find work, lacks necessary schooling or training, employer thinks too
young or old, and other types of discrimination.
  4 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:  Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.