unemployment

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English employment English unemployment From un- + employment.

1. The state of having no job; joblessness.

   “Unemployment made Jack depressed.”

   “In 1928, an arrangement was made between the Government of Northern Ireland and the N.C.C. for the construction of a loop line as an unemployment scheme.”

2. The phenomenon of joblessness in an economy.

   “Unemployment has been considered a cause of crime.”

3. The level of joblessness in an economy, often measured as a percentage of the workforce.

   “Unemployment was reported at 5.2% in May, up from 4.9% in April.”

4. A type of joblessness due to a particular economic mechanism.

   “All unemployments, seasonal, frictional, cyclical, classical, whatever, mean that you're out of work.”

5. An instance or period of joblessness.

   “Until then his life had consisted of low-paying jobs, numerous unemployments, and drug use.”