wageless

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "wageless" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to refer to an employee who is not receiving a wage or salary, either temporarily or permanently. For example: "The COVID-19 pandemic has left many people wageless and struggling to make ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

They present data showing that post-crisis recoveries tend to be jobless in the absence of a burst of inflation, but merely "wageless" when inflation is running moderately high.That's a reasonable story.

The Economist

Here's the gist of it:This paper documents that, for a sample of post-war recession episodes in advanced and emerging market economies (EMs), financial crises tend to be followed by jobless recoveries in the presence of low inflation and by "wageless" recoveries in the presence of high inflation.

The Economist

"High inflation" recession episodes are not associated jobless recoveries but wageless recoveries.

The Economist

The economists examine data on financial crises since the second world war and find that post-crisis recoveries are jobless when inflation is low, but merely "wageless" when inflation is relatively high.

The Economist

"The labor market consequences of financial crises with or without inflation: jobless and wageless recoveries", Guillermo Calvo, Fabrizio Coricelli, and Pablo Ottonello, NBER Working Paper 18480, October 2012.

The Economist

Here's their model The main channel that may generate equilibria in which shocks to the functioning of credit markets lead to jobless or wageless recoveries is based on the role of collateral in credit markets.

The Economist

And since all of the last three recoveries began as "jobless" and "wageless" (i.e., though gross domestic product was growing, jobs and real wages lagged), it took a while for the expansions to lift those in the middle and below.

The New York Times

Our recoveries have been much too jobless and wageless for their first few years.

The New York Times

This type of sharing has distorted the housing market as a whole, as unrelated singles band together to create combined household incomes that will gazump any family with their wageless children.

The Guardian

In keeping with big society doctrine, wageless volunteers are asked to pick up where the government cuts back.

The Guardian - Opinion

As chairman, I found Alan calm, clear-headed, courageous; so at Channel 4 I appointed him to handle independent film-makers – many working on the minimum wage, some wageless – never before allowed to make for television.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wageless", consider the context; it often implies a temporary or undesirable state, so ensure it aligns with the intended meaning.

Common error

While related, "wageless" doesn't necessarily mean someone is unemployed. A person could be "wageless" due to temporary leave, volunteer work, or other situations where they aren't receiving a wage but aren't actively seeking employment. Remember that the nuance between "wageless" and "unemployed" is relevant.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "wageless" primarily functions to describe a state of being without a wage. Ludwig AI confirms it's a correct term. It's used to characterize individuals or situations where income from labor is absent, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "wageless" is a grammatically correct adjective used to describe a state of being without wages, often within economic or social contexts. Ludwig AI validates this. While not extremely common, its usage is significant enough to be considered relevant, especially in news and media. When using this term, it's important to consider whether it accurately reflects the situation, as it is not always interchangeable with "unemployed". Consider alternatives like "unpaid" or "uncompensated", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without pay

Replaces the single word with a prepositional phrase.

not receiving a wage

A descriptive phrase that clarifies the absence of wages.

uncompensated

A more formal synonym emphasizing the lack of compensation.

unpaid labor

Focuses on the labor aspect rather than the state of being without wages.

working without income

Highlights the disparity between work and earnings.

earning nothing

Emphasizes the lack of financial gain.

non-salaried

Specifically indicates the absence of a fixed salary.

without remuneration

A more formal and less common way of saying without pay.

without financial compensation

Elaborates on the type of compensation that is absent.

economically inactive

Describes a broader state of not participating in the paid workforce.

FAQs

How can I use "wageless" in a sentence?

You can use "wageless" to describe a situation where someone is not receiving a wage. For example, "The economic downturn left many workers "wageless"."

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

"Wageless" means not receiving a wage, while "unemployed" means not having a job and actively seeking one. Someone can be "wageless" without being unemployed, such as in the case of unpaid internships or volunteer work.

Are there situations where I shouldn't use "wageless"?

Avoid using "wageless" when "unpaid" or "uncompensated" would be more appropriate. "Wageless" specifically refers to the absence of a wage, while other terms may cover broader forms of compensation.

What is a "wageless recovery"?

A "wageless recovery" refers to an economic recovery where GDP grows, but real wages stagnate or decline. It is a condition where people are working, but their wages are not improving.