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

[ThisPlumShark]

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

I've worked since I was 15.

I was out of work for 4 months when I was 17...handed my notice in to my part time job to concentrate on my A Levels.

After that 4 months, I've been consistently employed from age 17 to now (age 38).

16 months. I’d gone on maternity leave with DC1 and we had to relocate for DH job when she was tiny so had to resign. Started looking for part time work after a year.

3 months. I worked somewhere I hated (first proper job, office junior), put up with it for a year before I left. Took me 3 months to find something else, I stayed there for 9yrs.

I’m just back in work after 2 month off by choice after leaving an incredibly toxic workplace through redundancy. I’d like a bit more time tbh but my new job is absolutely lovely so I can’t really complain.

About 4 months. Between jobs when I moved in with an ex.

Officially 2 weeks after graduating, but I'd got a job halfway through the second week, it just didn't start for a few days. Temping was easy to get back then. I've never earned that much and maybe if I'd ever been brave enough not to grab the first job that came along I'd have a better career.

Been working for 38 years. I had about 10 months after graduating and then have had two periods of 6 months out of work. The first I got myself made redundant. The latter at the age of 58. In my last job now so don’t expect any more. Apart from after graduating I’ve not been on benefits but lived off redundancy packages.

Never. I’ve had a job of some description since I was 14, from shop work to car washing to waitressing. Now (in my 40s) I am a head of department in a finance business.

We didn’t have much money growing up so I’ve always taken the initiative to do paid work even if it’s relatively menial. I remember my first job out of uni involved making coffees and changing the loo roll in the staff toilets! I didn’t bat an eyelid but in hindsight it wasn’t exactly putting my business degree to good use!

8 years. Son with horrendous mental health issues.

From actually starting work at 19, absolutely zero