This paper studies employment commitment and psychological well-being among a random sample of 3 500 unemployed men and women in Sweden. The study observes which factors govern the level of employment commitment and if there are any significant differences between unemployed men and women in this respect. The article also discusses the importance of commitment to employment when analysing psychological well-being among unemployed. The results emphasise the psychosocial value of the former job, the activity level as unemployed and age when studying employment commitment among both men and women. However, the results also indicate that age and family situation affect unemployed women�s and men�s levels of commitment to paid employment in different ways. Further, both unemployed men and women with a strong non-financial employment motivation have a significantly higher risk of experiencing poor mental well-being than those with lower commitment to employment. In conclusion, the results from this study speak against the hypothesis that the high unemployment rates among certain categories of people are mainly a result of low motivation to be employed.