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                              
                                          1997   1998                                                                       
                                                                                                                            
                                                        1997   1998   1997   1998   1997   1998   1997   1998   1997   1998 
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
Total not in the labor force............ 66,837 67,547 11,343 11,343 18,552 18,732 36,942 37,472 24,454 24,799 42,382 42,748
  Do not want a job now(1).............. 61,895 62,735  9,434  9,491 16,311 16,580 36,151 36,664 22,420 22,790 39,475 39,945
  Want a job(1).........................  4,941  4,812  1,909  1,852  2,241  2,152    791    807  2,034  2,008  2,907  2,803
    Did not search for work in previous                                                                                     
     year...............................  2,857  2,859  1,034  1,011  1,245  1,240    579    608  1,118  1,134  1,739  1,725
    Searched for work in previous                                                                                           
     year(2)............................  2,084  1,953    875    841    997    912    212    200    917    875  1,168  1,078
      Not available to work now.........    669    643    346    332    289    275     34     36    257    250    412    392
      Available to work now.............  1,416  1,310    529    509    708    637    178    164    659    624    756    686
        Reason not currently looking:                                                                                       
           Discouragement over job                                                                                        
            prospects(3)................    343    331    107    108    184    170     52     53    200    198    143    133
          Reasons other than                                                                                                
           discouragement...............  1,073    979    423    401    524    467    126    111    460    427    613    552
            Family responsibilities.....    139    143     26     37     97     93     16     13     21     23    117    120
            In school or training.......    235    206    188    173     45     32      2      1    113    105    121    102
            Ill health or disability....    116    104     17     14     71     69     28     21     52     52     64     52
            Other(4)....................    583    525    191    177    311    273     81     75    273    247    311    278

  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 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used
in the household survey.