Unemployment Meaning
Unemployment Definition & Usage
The state of being without a paid job despite the willingness and ability to work.
Examples
- "After the company downsized, many workers found themselves facing long-term unemployment."
- "The government introduced new policies to combat rising unemployment among young people."
- "He struggled with unemployment for several months before finding a new job in sales."
- "Unemployment rates have been steadily increasing in the region due to factory closures."
- "Unemployment can have significant social impacts, including higher rates of poverty and mental health issues."
A measure of the number or percentage of people in the labor force who are not employed and actively seeking work.
Examples
- "The unemployment rate in the country reached its highest level in over a decade."
- "The government is concerned about the rising unemployment rate as it signals a slowdown in the economy."
- "Higher unemployment is often linked to economic recessions and periods of financial instability."
- "Experts predict that the unemployment rate will remain high in the coming years due to global supply chain disruptions."
- "Unemployment data is closely monitored by economists to assess the overall health of an economy."
Cultural Context
Unemployment is a central issue in modern economies, influencing policies on welfare, taxation, and public support programs. It has a strong social impact and is a major focus of government action, especially in times of economic downturns. Historically, unemployment became a formalized concept during the Industrial Revolution as the labor market became more organized and specialized.
The Struggle of Finding Work
Story
The Struggle of Finding Work
As the sun set behind the cold city skyline, Maria stood outside the job center, her heart heavy with uncertainty. She had been looking for work for over six months, ever since the factory where she worked shut down unexpectedly. The unemployment benefits she had been receiving were running out, and with each passing week, her hope seemed to fade a little more. Inside the center, the atmosphere was just as grim. A group of men were quietly flipping through job listings, while others, like Maria, waited for their turn to speak with a counselor. She had been told multiple times that there were 'no positions available right now' or that she 'didn’t have the necessary experience.' The frustration of unemployment felt like a weight she could never shake. 'It's hard,' Maria told another woman sitting next to her, 'you can only wait for so long before you start feeling like you're not good enough.' The woman nodded sympathetically, 'I know. I've been out of work for a year now. The unemployment rate's been sky high lately.' When Maria finally met with the counselor, she learned that the city had been suffering from rising unemployment rates due to a factory closure and other economic pressures. The counselor advised her to apply for jobs in a completely new sector, but Maria was unsure if she could start over at her age. On her way home, Maria thought about the thousands of others in her situation, people who were looking for a chance to change their lives but were held back by circumstances beyond their control. The numbers on the unemployment reports were just figures to most people, but to Maria, it was a daily battle for survival, a constant reminder of the impact of unemployment on her life and the lives of those she loved.
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