Is there any reason why SAHP shouldn't be described as 'unemployed'?

[BrendaandEddie]

I know they are busy etc. But is this a box you should tick if you are at home with children?

[MabelSideswipe]

I suppose the word unemployed suggests someone who it not wanting or looking for paid employment.

[BrendaandEddie]

Yes, I suppose so, hadn't thought of the Looking aspect

[BarbarianMum]

I would say not unless you are actually wanting/looking for paid employment. There are more states of being than employed/unemployed.

[vvviola]

I would have said the opposite Mabel that unemployed necessarily implied looking for/able to take a job if offered. So a SAHP would not be unemployed unless they were temporarily a SAHP while looking for employment.

[Bragadocia]

Technically it's correct, but people find the word stigmatising. It's quite hard to just brazenly say "no, I don't work" and not care what assumptions people make.

[Alastrante]

Is it on a government/council form? They usually want to know the difference between unemployed (potentially claiming benefits) and out of the workforce (describes a lot of sahp but not all) for statistics and that.

[Fizrim]

To me, unemployed means looking for or wanting work, just not working at the moment (not necessarily by choice).

[MaxPepsi]

to me, describing yourself as unemployed implies you are actively seeking a job.

[MyrtleFox]

Yes and the department of social welfare can and do differentiate between people who are available to work (whether or not they are looking) and people who aren't available to work because of their childcare commitments.

If working in a creche is 'work' then somebody who is looking after children is employed not by an employer but their time is employed.

Very insulting AIBU. Are you looking to offend? Why would that be?

[DobbinsVeil]

Would imply actively seeking employment - also why retired usually has it's own box.

[ThursdayLastWeek]

As a SAHP I wouldn't be in a position to take a job should I be offered one. So in that sense my time is very much employed.

[PerspicaciaTick]

I am a SAHP who has been job hunting for 3 years. I currently have a job for a handful of hours a month, at least it can go on my CV. I never know whether to tick unemployed or not. I don't feel employed, I'm not claiming any benefits, I look after the DCs because I am at home most of the time, but I am seeking employment

[Nothighgaphere]

I think that unemployed on a form is for people who are currently seeking work AND therefore entitled to benefits. As a SAHP I don't class myself as unemployed.

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

Depends who's asking really.

If it's a census/market research type thing you often only get the choice of FT/PT/retired/unemployed.

If it's for any sort of financial gain (benefits, reduced entry fees etc) then what PPs have said.

If we're just discussing it philosophically I would say that 'unpaid' is not the same as 'unemployed'.

[TheLesserSpottedBee]

The definition of "unemployed" means without a paid job but available to work.

I am a SAHM, two children in school, Dh works, I have investments that pay me money.

No way I am unemployed.

I am not looking for work, nor I am available for work.

[letseatgrandma]

I would say that 'unemployed' means simply that you aren't in paid employment now, so a SAHM would fall into this category, yes.


The term 'unemployed' doesn't indicate whether you are seeking or not seeking work, just that you don't have it currently!

[RhodaBull]

I recently filled in a form and had to describe myself as "economically inactive". I felt a bit that it seemed to imply that by being a SAHM I was not a useful contributing member of society.

[NewLife4Me]

I think it depends on if you are seeking work. I haven't been looking for 24 years now and would never refer to myself as unemployed as I have no intention of working for somebody else.

A sahp is not unemployed, they are employed keeping house and raising children. You don't have to receive a wage to be employed doing something.

[VestalVirgin]

It always depends on context.

If we are talking about who is likely to face poverty in old age, then SAHMs are unemployed for the purposes of this analysis.

If we are talking about who doesn't feel needed and is therefore at risk of depression and similar issues, then some SAHMs might qualify while others do not.

And if the discussion is about how to create jobs for unemployed people, then SAHMs who decided to stay at home are not part of that group.

[DobbinsVeil]

What about voluntary staff? They aren't paid. Are retired people unemployed? I have a v part time job I do from home so I normally describe myself as a SAHP as I cba to explain l, but tick employed-part time on forms.

[BarbaraofSeville]

I suppose it depends whose form it is and what options there are.

Sometimes you can tick more than one box so it may be a case of choosing which of the truthful options you prefer or are more advantageous to you.

Eg in insurance, they charge unemployed people more than employed people as they claim there is a higher risk. I don't how how they charge SAHPs in comparison, or what about 'homemakers' that don't have DCs - they might not be officially retired or looking for work, but their 'job' might be running the home. There might or might not be all these options available.

[Needaninsight]

I'm a SAHM in the day (to preschool aged children, so in no way am I not busy!) and then go to freelance work in the evenings.

Definitely not unemployed thank you! Working a damn sight harder than FT people who get nursery to do the hard bit for them!

[DobbinsVeil]

I am barely economically active - does that term include or exclude investment income? Not that I have that either!