I guess it depends on the situation.
I would agree with what you said that trading can't be a reliable job since the income isn't stable, but there are some factors that might affect that one.
Let's say for example, a trader is making 5 digits on a monthly basis just by doing trading. Yes, there are times where he lost money in trading since no one can predict the market with 100% accuracy, but at the end of the month, he's making money like other employees. Do you still need to have a "RELIABLE" job if you know yourself that you are making money in trading "CONSISTENTLY"?
You are correct, but we traders do advice people that trading is not a reliable means of making money because we know how risky it is, especially for newbie traders. If we tell them that it is a way to make money, they will later most likely tell us that we are lying but setting a pit for them to fall into. I just do not know how I can excellently explain how trading should not be taken as a job except you are a good trader already and making money from it. Most people will realize it when they solely rely on trading that it is very risky. Some success traders that I have met do other things that are reliable than to just be trading only and they make money from trading, they invest more in reliable business in case of bad trading days.
Well, if unemployment is defined as not having a job, then traders are not unemployed. Because many people feel that they work by trading. However, it all depends on our respective perceptions and views. If work is defined as us being paid by the company and we have a contract with the company, then traders can be said to be unemployed. However, if people look at unemployment this way, then people who start businesses by selling something, and trying to generate their own income are unemployed. yeah, I think that's not quite right.
However, I think this has a very broad meaning. People will look differently at traders who are successful and have a lot of assets, from traders who work at home, but make very little money. The first trader might be said to be a successful businessman by ordinary people, and the second trader would be said to be an unemployed person looking for money on the internet. IMO, Traders are a job, but with high risks.
Are you really a trader? This should not be about what you read or what you think of but about what you know and have experience about.