Long-term unemployment is an occupational issue, but still being unemployed has got far less attention than the topic of work in occupational research. More knowledge on the impact of long-term unemployment on daily activities and occupations is needed. Aim of this thesis was to describe long-term unemployed peoples' experiences of being unemployed from an occupational perspective. A scoping review methodological framework was used to identify nine relevant studies to be included in thematic analysis.

Results revealed that occupational perspective of people’s experiences of long-term unemployment can be presented through three analytical themes: experiences of occupations during and due to long-term unemployment, experiences of occupational obstacles and experiences of occupational enablers. Daily lives of the long-term unemployed consist largely of occupations they have to do, for reasons often other than personal ones. Occupational injustices are present in the shape of obstacles people experience that limit and restrict their opportunities of engaging in meaningful occupations. Enabling factors also exist, but they are not available nor possible for all. Being long-term unemployed changes person's participation and engagement in occupations. By understanding the experience of long-term unemployment, it is also possible to plan and implement the support and interventions more accurately.