What is Marginally Attached Workers?
Marginally attached workers are individuals who are not currently employed, but are actively seeking employment and are available to work. This group of people is not included in the official unemployment rate, as they are not actively looking for work. Marginally attached workers are often referred to as “discouraged workers”, as they have given up looking for work due to a lack of job opportunities or other factors.
History of Marginally Attached Workers
The concept of marginally attached workers was first introduced in the late 1960s by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS defines marginally attached workers as those who have not looked for work in the past four weeks, but have looked for work in the past 12 months and are available to work. This definition was later expanded to include those who have not looked for work in the past 12 months, but are available to work.
The BLS also includes a category of “discouraged workers”, which are those who have given up looking for work due to a lack of job opportunities or other factors. This group of people is not included in the official unemployment rate, as they are not actively looking for work.
Comparison Table
| Category | Definition |
|---|---|
| Unemployed | Individuals who are actively looking for work. |
| Marginally Attached Workers | Individuals who are not currently employed, but are actively seeking employment and are available to work. |
| Discouraged Workers | Individuals who have given up looking for work due to a lack of job opportunities or other factors. |
Summary
Marginally attached workers are individuals who are not currently employed, but are actively seeking employment and are available to work. This group of people is not included in the official unemployment rate, as they are not actively looking for work. The concept of marginally attached workers was first introduced in the late 1960s by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more information about this term, you can visit the BLS website or other websites such as Investopedia and The Balance.
See Also
- Unemployment Rate
- Labor Force Participation Rate
- Underemployment
- Jobless Claims
- Job Openings
- Employment-Population Ratio
- Labor Force
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- Productivity
- Consumer Price Index (CPI)
