# unemployment

/ˌənɪmˈpɫɔɪmənt/ (US) · /ʌnɛmplˈɔɪmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unemployment
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the state of being jobless

noun · CEFR B1

the situation of not having a job when you want one.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. economic rate or level

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the number or percentage of people in a country who do not have a job.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. financial benefits

noun · CEFR B1 · American English · Informal

money that the government pays to people who do not have a job.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.