My (24F) boyfriend of 1.5 years (23M) is the man I want to marry. He’s kind and strong and loves me more than anything, and he’s serious about marriage too. I see engagement in our near future.

Unfortunately, at the beginning of COVID he was laid off from his paid trade apprenticeship. He has very little experience and this was going to be his leg up into a proper career, but the company folded and he’s been unsuccessful in finding another job. He’s been actively looking for several months.

I know it’s just hard out there in the job market for a young guy without much experience. I’m happy that he hasn’t fallen into the common unemployed guy trap of playing video games all day long - he gets up early every morning, works out, and gets to work on the job hunt. But unemployment money here in the US is running out, and he still has to pay his rent, and he’s stressed and depressed. He never takes it out on me, but it takes a toll on him. Meanwhile, I was able to switch to working remotely. In fact, I’ve got a bit of money for the first time in my life. I have a college degree, and he does not.

How can I best support him during this time of his life? Should I help him look for jobs, or is that too much like nagging? Should I help him pay some bills here and there, or is that patronizing? What have you done for your husbands and boyfriends when they’ve been unemployed? I try to tell him I’m proud of him every time he reports that he’s applied for a new string of jobs or worked on his side gig (which is not profitable yet). But I just feel helpless. Any advice is appreciated, thank you ladies.

Update: He got a job!!! Thank you all so much for the good advice.