nonwork

Nonwork is a term used in sociology and time-use research to denote the activities and time that occur outside paid employment. It encompasses leisure, domestic tasks, caregiving, education, volunteering, personal development, and rest. Nonwork is not simply the absence of work; it refers to a set of activities that fill time when individuals are not compensated in the labor market.

Nonwork can be voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary nonwork includes hobbies, family care, civic engagement, and self-directed study. Involuntary nonwork includes unemployment, illness, or disability that prevents paid work. In practice, people may combine paid work with substantial nonwork commitments, and the boundaries between work and nonwork can shift across life stages. Time-use research aims to quantify nonwork alongside work time and other daily activities.

In historical and policy discussions, nonwork is examined to understand changes in work organization, gender roles, and well-being. Industrialization and later economic development separated life into wage labor and nonmarket activities. Policy debates around shorter workweeks, universal basic income, or improved caregiving support aim to expand the scope and quality of nonwork without compromising living standards. Proponents argue that expanding nonwork opportunities can enhance well-being, reduce burnout, and lessen environmental impact, while critics raise concerns about affordability and economic sustainability.

Related concepts include leisure, recreation, and domestic labor. Some scholars use nonwork to discuss futures in which paid employment is reduced or redistributed. The term differs from unemployment and underemployment, which describe job status or labor market outcomes rather than the spectrum of nonpaid activities that fill nonwork time.