Who is not in the labor force?
Persons not in the labor force are those who are not classified as employed or unemployed during the survey reference week. Labor force measures are based on the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years old and over. (Excluded are persons under 16 years of age, all persons confined to institutions such as nursing homes and prisons, and persons on active duty in the Armed Forces.) The labor force is made up of the employed and the unemployed. The remainder—those who have no job and are not looking for one—are counted as “not in the labor force.” Many who are not in the labor force are going to school or are retired. Family responsibilities keep others out of the labor force.
Related Questions
- Why is the level of employment different when comparing the estimated labor force data with the covered employment data?
- What is the current estimate of the labor force participation rate and employment-population ratio?
- What is the difference between the employment rate and the labor force participation rate?
