Value isn't saved in variable

Question

I'm making a school project where I need to make a WordPress widget. It can change my state of employment and display it. I can't seem to find where the problem lies. The value isn't saved, nor does it change when I hit "save" in the widget menu.

public function __construct()
{
    $widget_ops = array(
        'classname' => 'my_widget',
        'desciption' => 'state of employment widget',
    );

    parent::__construct('my_widget', 'My Widget', $widget_ops);
}

public function widget( $args, $instance )
{
    ?>
    <p>My state of employment is :
        <?php
            if ($isEmployed ) {
                echo "Employed";
            } else if ( !$isEmployed ) {
                echo "Unemployed";
            } 
        ?><p>
    <?php 
}

public function form( $instance )
{
     ?>
    <div style="max-height: 120px; overflow: auto;">
        <ul>
            <li><input type="radio" name="Employment" value="Employed" <?php checked($isEmployed ) ?> > Employed</li>
            <li><input type="radio" name="Employment" value="Unemployed" <?php checked(!$isEmployed ) ?> > Unemployed</li>
        </ul>
    </div>
<?php
}

// save options
public function update( $new_instance, $old_instance )
{
    $reply = $_POST["Employment"];

    if ($reply = "Employed") {
        $isEmployed = true;
    } elseif ($reply = "Unemployed"){
        $isEmployed = false;
    }
}
}
?>