unemployment

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

1

: the state of being unemployed : involuntary idleness of workers

also : the rate of such unemployment

2

: unemployment compensation

Examples of unemployment in a Sentence

My unemployment lasted about six months.

Unemployment has been increasing for months.

The current unemployment rate is six percent.

Recent Examples on the Web

While job growth was lower than expected, the U.S. economy still created 142,000 payroll jobs in August, and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.2%. —Bill Stone, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024

Even though the unemployment rate edged lower last month to 4.2%, joblessness is still hovering near highs not seen since the fall of 2021. —Bryan Mena, CNN, 8 Sep. 2024

Yet a six-figure job gain and small dip in the unemployment rate were beheld by some eyes as inconsistent with a worrisome downturn. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2024

Employers added 142,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate dipped to 4.2% Job growth picked up from the sluggish pace of hiring in July. —Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing unemployment

• anti-unemployment
• unemployment compensation
• unemployment insurance

Kids Definition

unemployment

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

: the state of being out of work