intermittently employed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intermittently employed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has periods of employment followed by periods of unemployment. Example: "After graduating, she found herself intermittently employed as she searched for a full-time position in her field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

At present, he's no more than intermittently employed, and often drunk.

The New Yorker

Bobyshev was twenty-seven and recently separated from his wife; Brodsky was twenty-three and intermittently employed.

The New Yorker

Decades later, Unferth finds herself alone, depressed and intermittently employed, and pines for that time when she felt so fully alive.

The New York Times - Books

You're about twenty-five years old, and you're no more than, shall we say, intermittently employed, so you spend a great deal of time talking with friends about trivial things or about love affairs that ended or never quite happened; and sometimes, if you're lucky, you fall into bed, or almost fall into bed and just enjoy the flirtation, with someone in the group.

The New Yorker

After "A… You're about twenty-five years old, and you're no more than, shall we say, intermittently employed, so you spend a great deal of time talking with… As an exercise in political symbolism, the release of the White House's $3.6-trillion 3.6-trillion010 was an important moment.

The New Yorker

Summer music festivals are no longer just for roving college students and intermittently employed Gen Xers.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But for everybody else the elderly, people with low-wage jobs that don't offer benefits, the self-employed and employees of small companies, people who are employed intermittently or who are out of work private insurance is costly, complicated, and often hard to obtain.

The New Yorker

Brought to the attention of Napoleon, he was employed intermittently as court portraitist and decorator.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Based on our results, we recommend that land sharing be prioritised where: (1) livestock grazing can be removed or employed intermittently, (2) exotic plants do not dominate the ground layer, and (3) natural soil fertility is low.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

In addition to external cardiotocography, which can be employed continuously or intermittently during labour, internal cardiotocography can be performed by attaching a sensor to the fetal presenting part, usually its head.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Another ship, operating on behalf of ExxonMobil's northern Madagascar subsidiary, moves along the Northwest coast of Madagascar on May 29 , 2008 intermittently running a sonar system like that employed by the French some days earlier.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intermittently employed", ensure the context clarifies the reasons for the inconsistent employment. This could include seasonal work, project-based roles, or economic factors affecting job security.

Common error

Be specific about the nature of the intermittent employment. Avoid vague statements that could mislead readers about the person's work history or capabilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intermittently employed" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (usually a person) to describe their employment status. Ludwig AI confirms that this expression is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intermittently employed" accurately describes someone whose employment is not continuous but rather marked by periods of work interspersed with periods of unemployment. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used. While not as frequent as other employment-related terms, it appears in reputable sources such as The New Yorker and The New York Times. Alternatives like "occasionally employed" or "sporadically employed" can offer similar meanings, but it's essential to choose the phrase that best reflects the specific situation. When using "intermittently employed", providing context helps to clarify the reasons behind the inconsistent employment and prevents potential misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irregularly employed

Uses "irregularly" to describe the inconsistent nature of the employment.

occasionally employed

Replaces "intermittently" with "occasionally", suggesting less frequency.

sporadically employed

Substitutes "intermittently" with "sporadically", indicating irregular intervals.

precariously employed

Underscores the instability and insecurity of the employment situation.

contingently employed

Emphasizes that employment is dependent on certain conditions or events.

part-time employed

Indicates employment for fewer hours than a full-time job, not necessarily irregular.

temporarily employed

Highlights the limited duration of the employment.

seasonally employed

Specifies that employment is tied to specific seasons.

freelance employed

Highlights working for various companies on different assignments.

underemployed

Emphasizes the employee's expertise being higher than required by his job.

FAQs

How to use "intermittently employed" in a sentence?

You can use "intermittently employed" to describe someone who has periods of employment followed by periods of unemployment. For example: "After graduating, she found herself "intermittently employed" as she searched for a full-time position in her field."

What can I say instead of "intermittently employed"?

You can use alternatives like "occasionally employed", "sporadically employed", or "irregularly employed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "intermittently employed" or "unemployed"?

"Intermittently employed" suggests periods of both employment and unemployment, while "unemployed" typically indicates a current state of not having a job. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the person's situation.

What are the implications of being "intermittently employed"?

Being "intermittently employed" often suggests instability in one's career, which can impact financial security and career advancement opportunities. It's crucial to provide context when using this term to avoid negative connotations.