<p>Just to give more background: The International Labor Organization (ILO) has defined <a href="https://www.ilo.org/global/statistics-and-databases/statistics-overview-and-topics/WCMS_470304/lang--en/index.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">guidelines</a>
on how statistical offices should define employment statuses. As Kenny_LJ pointed out, the key is </p>

<ol>
<li>to be capable to work (i.e. not disabeld, sick, pregnant, retired etc.) </li>
<li>to be actively looking for a job</li>
</ol>

<p>It seems the BLS is complying with these ;)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-04T10:24:05.567Z
2019-02-04T10:24:05.567Z
E. Sommer
<p>Say someone is looking for a job, but the ones they can find either don't give them the right compensation (businesses pay them too low) or is not the type of work they're looking for. So they stay at home until they find one. </p>

<p>Is such a person considered to be unemployed by official data? I understand different countries may have different policies about this -- but how is this predominantly tackled?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-25T14:15:31.253Z
Which country are you talking about?
Giskard
<statistics><unemployment>
If someone stays at home because they can't find the type of job they want, are they included in unemployment numbers?
WorldGov
# If someone stays at home because they can't find the type of job they want, are they included in unemployment numbers?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-25)

Say someone is looking for a job, but the ones they can find either don't give them the right compensation (businesses pay them too low) or is not the type of work they're looking for. So they stay at home until they find one.

Is such a person considered to be unemployed by official data? I understand different countries may have different policies about this -- but how is this predominantly tackled?

**Tags:** statistics, unemployment

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Which country are you talking about?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-02-04. Score: 1

Just to give more background: The International Labor Organization (ILO) has defined [guidelines](https://www.ilo.org/global/statistics-and-databases/statistics-overview-and-topics/WCMS_470304/lang--en/index.htm)
on how statistical offices should define employment statuses. As Kenny\_LJ pointed out, the key is

1. to be capable to work (i.e. not disabeld, sick, pregnant, retired etc.)
2. to be actively looking for a job

It seems the BLS is complying with these ;)


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