Born in 1972, Jobless for a year now

My colleague ask me to help him interview for a position he has in Singapore.  The candidate was born in 1972.  So he is 44 years old.  I have been reading about PMET having a hard time looking for a job once they are retrenched.  So this is the first time I face a PMET.  However, he is a different case altogether.  He resigned from his job a year ago to look after his mother.  What puzzles me is he resigned almost the same time as his mother passing on.

That was a year ago.  We asked how he spends his time.  He told us he is helping his daughter as she is having her "O" level this year.  I asked him if he is teaching her any subjects.  No he cannot.  He helps her by sending her to school as well as to her tuition classes.  Now that "O" has started he can look for a job.  For the past year, he did not attempt to look for a job.  He can survive without regular pay.  His wife is working but pay is low.

What we gather from his responses is he is not very keen or active in his job search.  He is also not interested in upgrading himself.  He prefers to work with his hands. 

This is just one person but he managed to make me wonder about some of the cases featured in the internet about PMETs having a hard time looking for a job.  How much is their attitude affecting their job search or if they are sincere in looking for job.