# unemployed

/ˌənɛmˈpɫɔɪd/ (US) · /ʌnɛmplˈɔɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unemployed
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. without a job

adjective · CEFR B1

not having a job, even though you want one and are looking for work.

For teachers: describing a person who is currently without paid employment but is actively seeking work.

- He has been unemployed for six months, but he finally has an interview tomorrow.
- The factory closure left hundreds of skilled workers suddenly unemployed in a region with few other industrial opportunities.

### 2. jobless people as a group

noun · CEFR B2

people who do not have jobs, looked at as a large group.

For teachers: a collective noun referring to the segment of the population that is currently without work.

- The government is creating new training programs to help the unemployed.
- Economic policies must address the needs of the long-term unemployed to prevent social exclusion and permanent loss of skills.

Usage: Always used with the definite article 'the' and treated as a plural noun.

### 3. not being used

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

not being used for any purpose at the moment.

For teachers: not being utilised or put to a specific purpose; often used in technical or formal contexts regarding resources or capital.

- The company has a lot of unemployed capital that could be invested in new projects.
- The report highlighted the amount of unemployed machinery sitting in the warehouse while production targets remained unmet.

## Examples

- The government is trying to help the unemployed find work.
- New training programs were launched last month to provide the unemployed with modern digital skills.
- Economists argue that while the total number of the unemployed has decreased, many individuals have simply stopped looking for work and are no longer counted in official statistics.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.