full employment

USAGE SUMMARY

'full employment' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation in which every person who is able and willing to work is able to find a job. For example, "The government is striving to achieve full employment for the coming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Full employment.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not exactly full employment.

The New York Times

But there was full employment!

The New York Times

Increasing productivity threatens full employment.

The New York Times

A Full Employment Economy.

University of California, Berkeley

We want to see full employment.

Independent

Which policies would promote full employment?

The New York Times

But the other mandate is full employment.

The New York Times

Full employment for trademark lawyers.

The Guardian - Tech

To combat idleness, full employment.

The Guardian

What does full employment mean?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing economic policy, use "full employment" to denote a target state where nearly everyone who wants a job can find one. Be mindful that frictional and structural unemployment always exist.

Common error

Avoid the misconception that "full employment" means 0% unemployment. It's a theoretical state recognizing that some level of unemployment (frictional and structural) is inevitable in a dynamic economy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "full employment" functions as a noun phrase or a noun adjunct, often serving as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes a policy goal where employment opportunities are readily available for those seeking them.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "full employment" is a frequently used phrase that signifies a desired economic state characterized by high job availability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for formal and professional contexts. While "full employment" doesn't imply zero unemployment, it represents an economy where most people who want to work can find jobs. The term appears most often in news and academic discussions and is a key concept in economic policy. Understanding its nuances and avoiding the common misconception of equating it with zero unemployment will ensure accurate and effective communication. The expert rating confirms that the phrase is authoritative and consistently used in different sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near-full employment

Acknowledges that achieving perfect "full employment" is nearly impossible.

maximum employment

Focuses on achieving the highest possible level of employment, rather than eliminating all unemployment.

low unemployment rate

Focuses on the inverse of employment, highlighting minimal joblessness.

high employment rate

Describes the condition of having a large proportion of the population employed.

optimum employment level

Suggests an ideal level of employment considering economic factors.

job abundance

Emphasizes the plentiful availability of jobs.

labor force participation

Highlights the percentage of the population actively working or seeking work.

sustained job growth

Emphasizes the ongoing increase in employment opportunities.

economic productivity

Connects high employment with a thriving economy.

workforce engagement

Highlights the active involvement of people in the labor market.

FAQs

How is "full employment" typically defined in economics?

"Full employment" is generally defined as a state where the unemployment rate is at its natural rate, accounting for frictional and structural unemployment. It doesn't mean zero unemployment.

What are some policies aimed at achieving "full employment"?

Policies to promote "full employment" often include fiscal stimulus, investment in education and training, and macroeconomic policies aimed at maintaining stable economic growth.

Is "near full employment" the same as "full employment"?

"Near full employment" is a more practical description that acknowledges that achieving perfect "full employment" is very difficult. It describes a situation where unemployment is very low but not zero.

What's the difference between "full employment" and "complete employment"?

While both terms suggest a high level of employment, "complete employment" implies a possibly unrealistic scenario where everyone who wants a job has one. "Full employment" is a more nuanced economic concept.