Objectives The purpose of this research was to examine differences between clinical variables among outpatients with schizophrenia in competitive and partial employed and unemployed groups. Methods The study subjects were 168 outpatients with schizophrenia, and these were divided into three groups, that is, competitive (n=20), partial (n=28), and unemployed (n=120) groups, based on employment status. Job and psychopathology data were collected by interview and using self-report questionnaires (self-stigma, will to recover, family attitude, perceived social support, insight into disease, self-esteem, hopelessness, and attitude to drugs). Results The proportion of male patients in the competitive employment group was greater than in the partial or unemployed groups. Education level was significantly higher, and the number of hospitalizations was significantly lower in the competitive group than in the unemployed group. Levels of self-stigma, will to recover, and perceived social support were significantly higher, and levels of self-esteem and hopelessness were significantly lower in the competitive and partial employment groups than in the unemployed group. Patients in these two groups also reported a more positive family attitude, more insight into the disease, and a more positive attitude toward drugs than patients in the unemployed group. Conclusion Most clinical variables were similar in the competitive and partial employment groups. The findings of this study suggest environmental and systematic factors are more important for the employment of outpatients with schizophrenia than disease-associated factors.