unemployed at the moment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unemployed at the moment" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe someone who is not employed in any job, either temporarily or for an extended period. For example: "John is unemployed at the moment, but he's confident that he'll find a new job soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"I'm unemployed at the moment".

The Guardian

And although he is unemployed at the moment, Teboho said he had come to thank Mandela for a better life.

The Washington Post

If the Red Sox don't want to be that radical, they could consider Lou Piniella, who is unemployed at the moment.

The New York Times - Sports

There are only 4,500 long-term youth unemployed at the moment, the sure start programme, investment in education, the urban city regeneration programme.

The Guardian

Later, Ms. Dorléant, who said she is unemployed at the moment, said she was not quite satisfied with the mayor's reply, although, she added, Mr. Bloomberg "was nice" about the whole thing.

The New York Times

An agent's salary is usually about 1000 pesos (about $20) a shift - more than twice the minimum wage - and with more than 12 million Filipinos unemployed at the moment, there are few other options.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

I was unemployed at the time".

The Guardian - Film

The winner, Peter Homer, was unemployed at the time.

The Economist

She was actually unemployed at the time.

Huffington Post

Claire Zammit, Dinner lady Claire, 36, works part-time and lives in Basildon, Essex, with her two daughters and her partner, a currently unemployed labourer "Times are tough at the moment but I'm not complaining.

Independent

Among the sample, 14.0% of subjects were unemployed at baseline, 69.7% had 1 or more cumulative job losses, and 35.1% had spent time unemployed.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unemployed at the moment", consider the audience and context. It's a neutral phrase suitable for most situations, but more formal contexts might benefit from a more professional phrasing like "currently seeking employment".

Common error

Avoid using "unemployed at the moment" to describe a past situation. Use past tense phrases like "was unemployed at the time" or "had been unemployed" to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unemployed at the moment" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe someone's current employment status. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unemployed at the moment" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a current state of joblessness. It functions as an adjective phrase and serves to inform about one's employment status, suitable for neutral to slightly informal contexts. Ludwig AI validates its usability in written English. While widely accepted, consider more formal alternatives like "currently seeking employment" in professional settings. The phrase sees frequent use in news, media, and scientific contexts. Remember to use past tense phrasing when referring to a past state of unemployment, to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not currently working

A simple and direct statement of one's current employment status.

currently jobless

Focuses on the state of being without a job right now.

presently out of work

Highlights the lack of current employment.

between jobs right now

Suggests a temporary state of unemployment while seeking new opportunities.

temporarily without employment

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the unemployment.

seeking employment

Focuses on the active search for a job.

available for work

Indicates readiness and willingness to start a new job.

in transition

Suggests a broader career change or shift.

on a career break

Implies a voluntary pause in one's career.

taking time off work

Highlights a period of absence from employment, possibly for personal reasons.

FAQs

What's a less direct way to say "unemployed at the moment"?

You can use softer phrases like "between jobs" or "currently seeking opportunities" to lessen the bluntness.

How do I use "unemployed at the moment" in a sentence?

You can say, "I am "unemployed at the moment", but I am actively looking for a job" or "Due to recent layoffs, many people are "unemployed at the moment"."

Is it better to say "unemployed at the moment" or "out of work"?

"Unemployed at the moment" and "out of work" are quite similar. "Out of work" is slightly more informal but both are generally acceptable.

What's the difference between "unemployed" and "unemployed at the moment"?

"Unemployed" is a general state, while ""unemployed at the moment"" specifies the current situation. The latter implies the situation may be temporary.