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The statement that describes empty nest stage 1 accurately indicates a scenario where the head of the household remains employed while still having children living at home. At this stage, families are often transitioning as children may vary in age and are starting to move towards independence, yet still live under the same roof.

In this context, empty nest stage 1 refers to families where parents are beginning to experience their children’s gradual transition towards adulthood without fully emptying the nest. This period can involve a mix of feelings including the anticipation of the children's eventual independence alongside daily routines that support their ongoing education and growth.

Other options suggest scenarios either before or after the emergence of empty nest dynamics. For example, a single and childless head of household is not relevant to the empty nest concept, as there are no children present. Similarly, married couples with no children at home or those retired with children living at home do not fit the typical characteristics assumed in the first stage of the empty nest process, where the emphasis is on working parents still involved in their children’s lives while they begin to move towards independence.