Takuto Hasegawa

This study elucidates the interpretation of work outside the home among young adult carers aged 18–25 years who provided daily care for family members with illnesses or disabilities. Toward this end, interviews were conducted with former young adult carers. The results of analysis of the data interview pointed to three types of work outside the home, namely, non-regular employment (e.g., part-time work), regular employment (general full-time positions), and occasional work utilizing care experience (including lectures on childhood experiences with caring for family members). Furthermore, the results demonstrated that work outside the home provides young adult carers with opportunities to structure their lives at their own pace, interact comfortably with colleagues in a pleasant space distinct from family, and experience a sense of connection to society that extends beyond caregiving. The study describes these notions as “gaining discretion over the allocation of work/care/free time” and “connections to places outside the home and to others.” This study presents diverse working patterns among young adult carers and the meaning they attribute to employment apart from purely economic considerations. This result contrasts with prior research that mainly focused on the difficulties faced by young adult carers in leaving their jobs or maintaining their employment from the perspective of the stability of their employment.