Historically when a woman found out a man she wanted to date was unemployed, she would go running for the hills. But these days, with the recession affecting people in all professions, many recently laid-off single men may actually make very promising boyfriends. Chances are high that these men worked in law, banking, or another field that requires a decent amount of education, intelligence, and motivation. They deserve some compassion.

While these men may fall into the dreaded unemployed category, they are still desirable, and maybe even more desirable than men who still have jobs. Here are four reasons why starting to date someone who's been laid off can actually be better than someone who has to go to work every day.

Reason #1. He'll have more time to think about you. He should be able to come up with many fun and interesting (and cheap!) dates for the two of you as you explore your budding relationship.

Reason #2. He'll work out more and actually lose the extra weight he gained from sitting in an office all day.

Reason #3. He'll take up exciting hobbies like cooking or playing music, something he's always wanted to do, and something that will benefit you.

Reason #4. He'll write that book he's always thought about and end up a famous author. You'll have been the one who supported his dream from the beginning (and get to enjoy his royalty checks with him)!

So while the jobless usually get the short end of the stick from single women when it comes to starting a relationship, in these tough times no one can afford to be too picky. Don't overly judge a man by his work status and remember these dating benefits when his unemployment runs out in six to nine months!