Looking for work

This article looks at the definition of economic of people who are economically inactive and provides tips on looking for work.

Economic inactivity

People who are not employed or self-employed are said to be economically inactive i.e. they have no employment status.

Economically inactive people may include:

There are many routes available to people looking for work after a period of economic inactivity. Here are some general tips on looking for work:

Establish a support network of family and friends
Update your CV
Get advice on CVs, careers, jobs and skills from organisations such as National Careers Service
Start networking
Use the government's Universal Jobmatch service
Register with online job vacancy search engines such as Indeed, Monster, fish4jobs and Jobsite
Check local and national newspapers for job vacancies
Identify growth industries and skills which are in demand in your area
Get into the habit of working by volunteering
Sign up for agency work
Look into freelance work or going self-employed
Brush up your skills using free online resources, or organisations such as learndirect
Consider learning a new trade through apprenticeships, traineeships, or internships
Speak to a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your local Jobcentre about support for people with disabilities who are looking for work (e.g. Access to Work)
Check your employment rights as an ex-offender at GOV.UK
Improve your communication skills
Seek advice from agencies and employers on your applications and interviews
If you are a member of a union, ask about the range and type of support available to help people looking for work or wishing to update their skills and competencies

Further guidance is available on the National Careers Service and GOV.UK websites. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes economic data for the UK.