unemployment
n. uncountable B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˌənɪmˈpɫɔɪmənt// UK //ʌnɛmplˈɔɪmənt// un·em·ploy·ment
n. the state of not having a job when you are looking for one. It also refers to the total number of people in a country who are out of work.
n. the state of being without paid work despite being available and actively seeking employment. Often used to refer to the percentage of the total labour force that is currently jobless.
High unemployment is a major problem for the local economy.
The government introduced new training programs to help reduce youth unemployment in the city.
Economists distinguish between structural unemployment, caused by shifts in the economy, and cyclical unemployment, which fluctuates according to the health of the broader business cycle.
From un- + employment.