underemployment
noun
un·der·em·ploy·ment
ˌən-dər-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 
1
: the condition in which people in a labor force are employed at less than full-time or regular jobs or at jobs inadequate with respect to their training or economic needs
2
: the condition of being underemployed
Examples of underemployment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York recently released a report on the labor market for recent college graduates, including data on unemployment and underemployment rates by major.
—
Allison Schrager, Mercury News, 14 June 2025
Additionally, the underemployment rate, which is the percentage of college graduates working in a field that does not require a college degree, rose to 41.2%.
—Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2025
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates reached 5.8%, its highest level since 2021, while the underemployment rate soared above 40%, the New York Fed said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 June 2025
Which makes life even harder for those struggling with unemployment or underemployment and lack of career pathways – the very thing that’s making homebuilding more expensive.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for underemployment
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Allison Schrager, Mercury News, 14 June 2025
Additionally, the underemployment rate, which is the percentage of college graduates working in a field that does not require a college degree, rose to 41.2%.
—Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2025
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates reached 5.8%, its highest level since 2021, while the underemployment rate soared above 40%, the New York Fed said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 June 2025
Which makes life even harder for those struggling with unemployment or underemployment and lack of career pathways – the very thing that’s making homebuilding more expensive.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for underemployment
Cite this Entry
“Underemployment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underemployment. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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