unemployment
noun [ U ]
uk/ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ us ECONOMICS, WORKPLACE
the number or percentage of people in a country or area who do not have jobs:
In the hardest hit areas, unemployment stands at around 14%.
Youth unemployment among those between 16 and 19 remains high.
The Office for National Statistics said the "claimant count" measure of unemployment dropped by 5,500 last month.
an area of low/high unemployment
unemployment figures/levels/statistics
widespread/rising/growing unemployment
unemployment rises/soars/climbs In Arkansas, the state's unemployment rose from 4.1% in December to 4.3% in January.
unemployment falls/drops/decreases Unemployment is dropping fastest in the north of the country.
level/rate of unemployment Unofficial estimates put the level of unemployment in the region at around 10%.
rise/increase/decline in unemployment Further increases in unemployment are expected.
reduce/cut/tackle unemployment Helping people out of poverty involves ensuring they have the right skills to compete in the labour market, as well as tackling unemployment.
unemployment remains low/high/steady Fed forecasts are that unemployment will remain low at about 4.75%.
a situation in which someone does not have a job:
Fear of unemployment is driving homeowners to trade down as a safety measure against the chance of tough times ahead.
a period/spell of unemployment Periods of unemployment are an inevitable feature of modern working life.
Welfare discrimination plunges thousands of young people into a cycle of homelessness, unemployment and poverty.
US informal
money that the government pays regularly to unemployed people who are looking for jobs:
If your contract is terminated, insist that your bosses give you a letter confirming that you can claim unemployment.
See also
frictional unemployment
hidden unemployment
long-term unemployment
seasonal unemployment
structural unemployment