barely employed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely employed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has very little work or is only working part-time or sporadically. Example: "After graduating, she found herself barely employed, taking on odd jobs to make ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

She's barely employed, she's emotionally unbalanced, she's not beautiful, she's not even especially nice.

The New York Times - Books

She is the "it" shrink for the known but barely employed.

The New York Times - Arts

The guest list ran from William Wyler and Sam Spiegel to the then barely employed Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper.

The New York Times - Books

Earnest is barely employed, broke, and "technically homeless" as he pursues his dreams of being a rap manager while trying to raise his daughter.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Tom malevolently caused his own son to become paralyzed and is now a Tasmanian devil of impotent rage, estranged from his family and barely employed.

The New York Times - Books

As someone who read Judy Blume in grade school, Erica Jong in high school, Anaïs Nin in college and Iris Murdoch in my barely employed slacker years, I'm not so sure.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In 2016, Google's Alphabet made $19.2 billion in revenue in Bermuda, where it "barely employs any worker nor owns any tangible assets, and where the corporate tax rate is zero percent," the study noted. .

Huffington Post

By 1995 the number of deep mines had sunk to just 16, employing barely 1,300 miners with the government happy to embark on a "dash for gas" using the newfound hydrocarbon wealth of the North Sea.

The Guardian

So has its furniture industry; in 2009 it employed barely half as many people as it had just two decades earlier.In 1977 those three industries tobacco, textiles and furniture produced around 22% of the state's GDP; in 2005 their share was just 7%.

The Economist

Marczewski also employed barely perceptible jump cuts to create a sense of unease.

The Guardian - Film

At last count in August, only 74.8 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds were employed — barely up from a monthly low of 73.3 percent earlier in the recovery, and historically still well below healthy levels.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "barely employed", ensure the context clarifies whether it is due to lack of available work, personal choice, or other factors influencing their employment status. This provides a more nuanced understanding of the situation.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of being "barely employed". While it can indicate financial strain or underutilization of skills, avoid immediately assuming extreme hardship without additional context. Describe the situation accurately without sensationalizing it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely employed" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun (usually a person) to describe their employment status. Ludwig indicates that it's used to convey a situation where someone has minimal or insufficient employment. The examples illustrate various contexts, like describing a character's economic hardship or a general economic trend.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely employed" serves as a descriptor indicating minimal or insufficient employment. Ludwig AI analysis suggests the phrase is grammatically correct and most frequently encountered in news and media contexts. While the term itself is neutral, the context often implies economic hardship or precariousness. For related terms to "barely employed", consider "underemployed", "marginally employed" or "part-time employed" to add more specific nuances to the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely employed

Similar to "barely employed", but perhaps with a stronger emphasis on infrequency.

minimally employed

Directly conveys the sense of having very little employment.

marginally employed

Highlights the precariousness or instability of the employment situation.

underemployed

Implies that the person is overqualified for their current job or not utilizing their skills fully.

tenuously employed

Suggests that the employment is fragile and easily lost.

part-time employed

Focuses specifically on the reduced hours of employment.

occasionally employed

Highlights the sporadic nature of the employment.

nominally employed

Emphasizes that employment is more in name than in reality.

infrequently employed

Focuses on the lack of regularity in employment.

just scraping by

Describes the financial situation as a result of the precarious work situation.

FAQs

How can I use "barely employed" in a sentence?

You can use "barely employed" to describe someone who has very little work or is only working part-time or sporadically. For example: "After graduating, she found herself barely employed, taking on odd jobs to make ends meet."

What are some alternatives to "barely employed"?

You can use alternatives like "underemployed", "marginally employed", or "part-time employed" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "barely employed" and "unemployed"?

"Barely employed" suggests having some work, even if it's minimal or infrequent, while "unemployed" indicates not having any work at all.

Is "barely employed" a negative term?

The term "barely employed" is generally neutral, but the connotation can become negative depending on the context. It describes a situation of limited work. It is not as negative as "unemployed" but suggests a precarious employment situation.