Unemployment
ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt
Definitions
The state of being without a job, typically used to describe the situation of a person or a population.
ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt
The state of being without a job or means of earning a living.
The unemployment rate in the city has risen to 8%.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're looking for a job, but you can't find one. That's unemployment! It's when people who want to work, can't.
👶 For kids: When grown-ups don't have jobs, that's unemployment.
More Examples
Prolonged unemployment can have a significant impact on a person's mental health.
The government is implementing new policies to address rising unemployment.
How It's Used
"The government is trying to reduce unemployment."
"High unemployment rates can lead to social unrest."
Idioms & expressions
Unemployment benefits
Government payments to unemployed workers to help them while they look for a new job.
"He is receiving unemployment benefits while he searches for a job."
Unemployment rate
The percentage of the labor force that is unemployed.
"The latest report shows a slight decrease in the unemployment rate."
From 'un-' (not) + 'employment' (the state of being employed), dating back to the late 19th century, reflecting industrialization and the rise of economic concepts.
Historically, the term gained prominence during the Industrial Revolution and became a central concern in economic and social policies of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Memory tip
Imagine 'un-' (not) attached to 'employment'—it means not having employment.