NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE: Anyone who is not classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as either employed persons or unemployed persons. The combination of employed persons and unemployed persons is the official specification of the civilian labor force, meaning anyone who does not qualify for the civilian labor force is classified as "not in the labor force." This catch-all category is largely comprised of several notable segments of the population, such as young, elderly, homemakers, and military. However, it includes others who are either unwilling or unable to engage in productive activities for assorted reasons. See also | employment | unemployment | employed persons | unemployed persons | civilian labor force | Bureau of Labor Statistics | Current Population Survey |
