Word
unemployment
Phoneticsun·em·ploy·ment, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌənɪmˈpɫɔɪmənt/
UK/ʌnɛmplˈɔɪmənt/
Definitions
01the state of being jobless
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the situation of not having a job when you want one.
n. the state of being without a job or a source of income from employment. Uncountable in this general sense.
“After the factory closed, many local families faced long periods of unemployment.”
“The psychological impact of long-term unemployment often extends far beyond the immediate financial strain on the household.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02economic rate or level
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science Academic
n. the number or percentage of people in a country who do not have a job.
n. the total number or percentage of the workforce currently without work but actively seeking it. Often used with 'high', 'low', 'rising', or 'falling'.
“The government is worried because unemployment has risen for the third month in a row.”
“Economists argue that structural unemployment requires different policy interventions than the cyclical joblessness seen during a typical recession.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03financial benefits
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun American English · Informal
n. money that the government pays to people who do not have a job.
n. financial assistance provided by the state to individuals who are out of work. Often used as a shorthand for 'unemployment benefits' or 'unemployment insurance'.
“He had to go to the office to sign up for unemployment after he was laid off.”
“The new legislation aims to extend unemployment for an additional six months to support those displaced by the recent industrial decline.”
Usage
In American English, 'unemployment' is frequently used to refer to the benefit payments themselves.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unemployment” in context.
Verb
01. face unemployment
“Many factory workers face unemployment as the company moves abroad.”
verb + noun
02. reduce unemployment
“The government is trying to create new jobs to reduce unemployment.”
verb + noun
03. tackle unemployment
“The new policy aims to tackle unemployment among young people.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. high unemployment
“The region is struggling with high unemployment and poverty.”
adj + noun
05. long-term unemployment
“Long-term unemployment can make it very difficult to find a new job.”
adj + noun
06. mass unemployment
“The economic crisis led to mass unemployment across the country.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. unemployment benefit
“He has been claiming unemployment benefit since he lost his job in June.”
noun + noun
08. unemployment rate
“The national unemployment rate has fallen for the third month in a row.”
noun + noun
Etymology
From un- + employment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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