underemployed

USAGE SUMMARY

"underemployed" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe a person who is not working enough hours or earning enough money, usually due to their qualifications or skill set. For example: "She was underemployed, working part-time despite her degree in finance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indeed, "underemployed" single mothers working part-time or at low-wage jobs were less likely to have health insurance than those who didn't work at all; these are the women, by the way, that the Congressional Budget Office expects to quit their sucky jobs because they'll be able to have health insurance.

The Guardian - Opinion

By 2004, Sonne had remortgaged his house and set up Specialisterne with the aim of getting people with autism, who are vastly underemployed or unemployed, into jobs where their skills can be taken advantage of, usually in the IT industry where attributes like seamless repetition and attention to detail are cherished.

The Guardian - Business

Left out of work or underemployed in the informal sector and subsistence farming, they are a political tinderbox.But how to boost growth?

The Economist

Unsurprisingly, in Germany only 17% of mothers with two or more children work anything like full time, whereas in France more than half do.Germany as a whole is underemployed.

The Economist

Women have made huge progress in the workplace, but still get lower pay and fewer top jobs than menSINCE 1970 the proportion of women in the workforce across the rich world has increased from 48% to 64%, a sharp rise but one which nevertheless leaves women in rich countries underemployed compared with women in China.

The Economist

Economists estimate that another 30% of the workforce is underemployed.

The Economist

- In 2013, more than half (55.9%) of employed black recent college graduates were "underemployed"—defined as working in an occupation that typically does not require a four-year college degree.

The Economist

Two-thirds of the population is unemployed or underemployed.

The Economist

Open unemployment stands at over 16%; another 15% are "underemployed".

The Economist

But unemployment has soared to 6%, while a further 13% of the labour force is underemployed.

The Economist

But when 18% of 18- to 24-year-olds are unemployed, and another 21% underemployed, perhaps, for once, it is time they got a say in things.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "underemployed", clarify the specific aspect of underemployment you're addressing: insufficient hours, low pay, or mismatched skills. This adds precision to your analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "underemployed" when "unemployed" is more accurate. "Underemployed" refers to having a job that doesn't fully utilize skills or provide sufficient hours, while "unemployed" means not having a job at all.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "underemployed" functions to describe individuals who are employed but not to their full capacity. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. Examples show it modifying nouns like "single mothers", "black recent college graduates", and referring to the workforce in general.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "underemployed" describes a situation where individuals are not fully utilizing their skills or working enough hours in their current employment. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a grammatically correct and frequently used term, primarily found in news and business contexts. Common related phrases include "involuntarily part-time" and "employed below skill level". Remember to clarify the specific aspect of underemployment when using the term to ensure clarity. Avoid confusing it with "unemployed", which refers to a state of having no job. The frequency of use, coupled with its presence in reputable sources like The Economist and The Guardian, underscores its importance in discussing labor market dynamics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

involuntarily part-time

Highlights the lack of choice in working fewer hours.

precariously employed

Highlights the instability and insecurity of the job.

part-time worker seeking full-time employment

Specifies the desire for more hours, which is implicit in "underemployed".

suboptimally employed

Emphasizes the inefficient allocation of labor resources.

employed below skill level

Emphasizes the mismatch between skills and job requirements.

skills mismatch in employment

Focuses on the discrepancy between qualifications and job duties.

working beneath potential

Focuses on the untapped abilities of the individual.

underutilized workforce

Shifts the perspective to the collective and its inefficient use of skills.

resources underutilized

Emphasizes the organization or system that could do more with the workforce.

contingent worker seeking stability

Highlights the precariousness and desire for more secure employment.

FAQs

How is "underemployed" used in a sentence?

The term "underemployed" is used to describe individuals who are working at jobs that don't fully utilize their skills or aren't providing enough hours. For example, "Many recent college graduates find themselves "underemployed" after graduation."

What's the difference between "unemployed" and "underemployed"?

"Unemployed" means not having a job, whereas "underemployed" means having a job that doesn't fully use your skills, is part-time when you desire full-time work, or doesn't provide adequate compensation. An "unemployed" person has no job; an "underemployed" person does, but it is inadequate.

What can I say instead of "underemployed"?

Alternatives to "underemployed" include "involuntarily part-time", "employed below skill level", or "precariously employed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "underemployment" a synonym for "unemployment"?

No, "underemployment" and "unemployment" are not synonyms. "Unemployment" refers to the state of being without any job, while "underemployment" refers to being employed in a job that doesn't fully utilize one's skills or provide sufficient hours or pay.