Even if you were looking for work you must still have earned income to take the credit ... read the line instructions:
Lines 4 and 5
If filing jointly, figure your and your spouse's earned
income separately. Enter your earned income on line 4
and your spouse's earned income on line 5.
Earned income for figuring the credit generally includes
the following amounts.
1. The amount shown on Form 1040 or 1040-SR,
line 1; or Form 1040-NR, line 8; minus any amount:
a. Included for a scholarship or fellowship grant that
wasn't reported to you on a Form W-2,
b. Excluded as foreign earned income (including any
housing exclusion) on Form 2555, line 43,
c. Also reported on Schedule SE (Form 1040 or
1040-SR) because you were a member of the clergy or
you received $108.28 or more of church employee
income,
d. Received for work performed while an inmate in a
penal institution, or
e. Received as a pension or annuity from a
nonqualified deferred compensation plan or a
nongovernmental section 457(b) plan. This amount may
be reported in box 11 of Form W-2. If you received such
an amount but box 11 is blank, contact your employer for
the amount received as a pension or annuity.
2. The amount shown on Schedule SE, line 3, minus
any deduction you claim on Schedule 1 (Form 1040 or
1040-SR), line 14; or Form 1040-NR, line 27.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i2441.pdf
