What's the longest you have been out of work for?

[ThisPlumShark]

In your adult life for any reason
I would say 15 months

Around 6 months. On 2 occasions.

First, when I decided to quit a job overseas and move back to the UK.

Secondly, when I quit a job because I loved the organisation and the team but it wasn't what I wanted to do long term and I didn't want to muck them around.

I was in the fortunate position of not needing to claim benefits on either occasion, so I was able to take my time to look for the right option.

touch wood I haven’t yet had a period out of work (been working 14 years so not that long though). I did have a time I thought I would be due to redundancy, but I took the first job I was offered as I was terrified of being unemployed - so I walked straight into the next one on Monday morning.

12 months after graduation- back in the early 90s. Then 4 months much later (about 2005)

Never in 40 years

11 months, by choice .. maternity

Two days. I've temped in between jobs and even left one job where the boss was awful to go temping, taking a calculated risk at the time. Temporary and contract work can be really helpful in restoring your self confidence and figuring out what you do and don't want to do next.

I’ve worked since I was age 15 (now 47) and I have only ever been out for work for 5 days, and that was when I was age 17.

About 12 years when the kids were little. Loved it but equally I love working and having something that’s just for me!

A few weeks out of choice after leaving a toxic workplace, but other than that a couple of weeks.

ive worked consistently since I graduated, assuming you don’t include maternity leave: over 30years ago. Some of that time was part time and/or self employed but always with some kind of income. I consider myself very lucky!

I've moved around quite a few jobs and travelled etc., but the longest I have involuntarily been unemployed and looking for job was quite recently, for 10 months. I found it really hard and stressful, but I have a good role now which I'm enjoying. It wasn't a nice period though.

I worked from 18 to 52 with zero gaps except. 2 paid maternity leaves of 6 and 9 months. Decided to quit. Took my pension at 55.

6 weeks. Started working in July 1976, still working (nearly 49 years) and have claimed benefits for 6 weeks.
Also, the longest I have been off sick in any one period was 10 days.

And I still have to wait another 1 year 8 months to be able to get my pension - I think I have earned it!

3 months. I was recovering from a broken bone when I was made redundant while on sick leave.
Prior to that, no longer than a couple of weeks during my 40 years since leaving school aasI've always temped to fill gaps between permanent jobs.

8yrs now, DS was born with so many health issues and disabilities he needed a full time carer and wasn't suitable for any childcare until he was 4.
He attends a SEN school but there's no afterschool or holiday care more than a few hours.
To work it would have to be a role that is term time only, between the hours of 10-2pm, those jobs get snatched up quickly as you can imagine.

9 months, 40 years ago. 1980s and 3 million unemployed.

If I don't count the stay at home parent years then about 8 weeks after my teacher training course in 2004

16 months not working in total since I was 13.

So 16 months in 37 years.

I want to retire so much but I'm only 50 😞

The past 10 years. Postpartum psychosis after the birth of dc1 which led to other mental health issues which in turn contributed to zero self esteem. In theory, I should be capable of getting a job as I have a variety of things to show for it. Another degree, voluntary work in various sectors including ones related to where I used to work etc but the thought seems so daunting. That no one would want to employ me because of my history.

Not helped by the fact that high earning dh likes me "safe" at home with minimal stress so he doesn't have to repeat the worst year of his life when dc1 was a baby and I had multiple suicide attempts.

Prior to that, I only ever left a job when I already had a job to go to. Even when I went backpacking I had a leave of absence from the Civil Service.

Had a job since I was 15, including while studying. I've never been out of work and am 47 now. I grew up in poverty, single mum on benefits and swore I would never live like that again.

Apart from maternity, 12 weeks when I was made redundant, I hated it and found it really stressful!

12 months.

I was 'made redundant' first morning back after maternity leave. It took 10 months to get my employer to a tribunal. They paid out three days before the hearing to shut me up.

Two months after that, I used the money to move back south and got a job within a couple of weeks.

6 months - decided not to return to one job after mat leave and took the chance to relocate so I could get a better paid job without a long commute and DH could become the SAHP.

Never, worked since I was 16 and always had the next job ready to start as soon as I finish the previous one

5 years now with MH issues. Had a period of 5 years at home when the children were younger although I did work as a babysitter for an agency during that time. Worked the rest of my adult years.