unemployed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unemployed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who does not have a job or is not currently employed. Example: "After being laid off, she found herself unemployed for several months before securing a new position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

More than 16 million people have been out of work for at least a year in the first quarter of 2014, up from 8.7 million before the crisis, or more than one in three of all unemployed across the OECD's 34 member countries, the report said.

The Guardian - Business

Replace the work programme with more locally-focused schemes for helping the long term unemployed back to work.

The Guardian

Labour only had a clear lead over the Conservatives among 18- to 34-year-olds, voters in social class DE (the "semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations, unemployed and lowest grade occupations"), among private and social renters, and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voters.

The Guardian

The number of young people from ethnic minority backgrounds who have been unemployed for more than a year has risen by almost 50% since the coalition came to power, according to figures released by the Labour party.

The Guardian

According to ONS figures cited by the Tories, the number of BAME people who were unemployed rose from from 192,000 in 2001 to 405,000 in 2010.

The Guardian

The pension age will rise to 70 by 2035, but addressing criticism that older people often find it hard to get a job the government is offering a new wage subsidy to employers taking on a worker over 50 who has been unemployed for more than six months.

The Guardian

Of these, Brundage sa id 85% – almost 600,000 – are unemployed even though many of them are employable.

The Guardian - Business

I never expected my success to last: I was used to being mostly unemployed.

The Guardian

There is one brief passage in her 1984 speech (as delivered) which gives a nod to the then-three million unemployed "sitting at home with a sense of failure and despair".

The Guardian

Only 27% of those unemployed thought December would be so fruitful.

The Guardian - Money

One of the Fed's tasks is also to curb unemployment, which is a persistent national crisis with 12 million people unemployed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternative phrases such as "jobless" or "out of work" to vary your language and maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid making sweeping statements about "unemployed" individuals as a group. Recognize that experiences and challenges differ widely based on individual circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unemployed" is as an adjective, describing a person's current status of not having a job, despite being willing and able to work. As Ludwig AI highlights, it can also function as a noun, referring to the collective group of people without employment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "unemployed" is a common adjective used to describe individuals who are without a job but actively seeking work. According to Ludwig AI, it can also function as a noun, referring to the group of people without employment. Analysis of usage patterns indicates that this phrase is frequently found in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific discussions. While it's grammatically correct, it is best practice to provide additional context and avoid generalizations about the "unemployed" population. Alternative phrases like "jobless" or "out of work" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Jobless

A direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of employment.

Without a job

A straightforward way of stating the absence of employment.

Out of work

A common phrase indicating a temporary or current state of unemployment.

Looking for work

Indicates an active search for employment opportunities.

Between jobs

Suggests a transitional period while seeking new employment.

Unwaged

Focuses on the lack of a regular salary or wages.

Seeking employment

Emphasizes the active search for a job.

Underemployed

Highlights a situation where someone is employed in a role below their skill level or desired hours.

On the dole

Informal term referring to receiving unemployment benefits.

Between engagements

Often used in artistic or performance-related fields to describe being currently without a role or contract.

FAQs

How can I use "unemployed" in a sentence?

The word "unemployed" can be used to describe someone who is currently without a job but is actively seeking work. For example, "The "unemployed" population is receiving government assistance."

What is a polite way to say someone is "unemployed"?

Instead of saying someone is "unemployed", you can use phrases like "between jobs" or "currently seeking employment" to be more sensitive and respectful.

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

"Unemployed" means someone is without a job, while "underemployed" means someone is working in a job that doesn't fully utilize their skills or experience, or is part-time when they desire full-time work.

What are the economic implications of a high rate of "unemployed" people?

A high rate of "unemployed" people can lead to decreased consumer spending, lower tax revenues, and increased demand for social services, impacting economic growth and stability.