nonemployed

Nonemployed is a term used to describe individuals who are not currently employed in paid work. It is not a single official category; in labor-market discussions it can refer to people outside employment status, including those who are unemployed (not working but actively seeking and available for work) and those not in the labor force (not seeking work for reasons such as schooling, retirement, caregiving, or discouragement). This distinction helps separate active labor market participants from those who are outside.

In statistical practice, the labor force consists of employed and unemployed people. Those not in the labor force are not counted as unemployed. Consequently, the nonemployed group can comprise both the unemployed and people not in the labor force, depending on how the term is used.

Not in the labor force includes students, retirees, homemakers, people with disabilities, and others who are not seeking work. Unemployment refers to individuals who are without a job and who are actively looking for work or have recently lost a job and are awaiting recall. Economic conditions, education, age, gender, and region influence patterns of nonemployment.

Usage and measurement vary by country. Analysts sometimes discuss nonemployment to gauge broader labor-market slack or social and economic conditions beyond the headline unemployment rate. Broad indicators such as the U-6 measure in the United States capture marginally attached workers and those working part time for economic reasons, illustrating a wider view of nonemployment. The term highlights the spectrum of employment status beyond the standard employed/unemployed dichotomy.