unemployment
UK: ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt | US: ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt
n. the state of being without a paid job despite being willing and able to work
n. the number or proportion of unemployed people in a society or economic system
unemployment = un<not> + employ<work> + ment<noun suffix>
- un (from Old English "un-," meaning "not" or "opposite of")
- employ (from Latin "implicare," meaning "to involve or engage," later evolving to "to hire for work")
- ment (a noun-forming suffix from Latin "-mentum," indicating a state or condition)
Etymology Origin:
The word "unemployment" emerged in the early 19th century, combining the negative prefix "un-" with "employment," which itself derives from the Latin "implicare" (to engage). The suffix "-ment" solidifies the concept as a state of being. The term reflects industrialization's focus on labor metrics, originally describing the condition of being involuntarily jobless.
The government introduced new policies to reduce unemployment.
Long-term unemployment can have severe psychological effects.
The unemployment rate rose sharply during the economic crisis.
She has been struggling with unemployment for over a year.
Technological advancements sometimes lead to temporary unemployment in certain sectors.