What Is Unemployment?
3:43:1 2023-09-13 3107

The term unemployment refers to a situation where a person actively searches for employment but is unable to find work. Unemployment is considered to be a key measure of the health of the economy.

The most frequently used measure of unemployment is the unemployment rate. It's calculated by dividing the number of unemployed people by the number of people in the labor force.

Many governments offer unemployment insurance to certain unemployed individuals who meet eligibility requirements.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Unemployment occurs when workers who want to work are unable to find jobs.
  • High rates of unemployment signal economic distress while extremely low rates of unemployment may signal an overheated economy.
  • Unemployment can be classified as frictional, cyclical, structural, or institutional.
  • Unemployment data is collected and published by government agencies in a variety of ways.
  • Many governments offer unemployed individuals a small amount of income through unemployment insurance, as long as they meet certain requirements.

How Unemployment Works

Unemployment is a key economic indicator because it signals the ability (or inability) of workers to obtain gainful work and contribute to the productive output of the economy. More unemployed workers mean less total economic production.

The unemployment definition doesn't include people who leave the workforce for reasons such as retirement, higher education, and disability.

Sign of Economic Distress

Unemployed workers must maintain at least subsistence consumption during their period of unemployment. This means that an economy with high unemployment has lower output without a proportional decline in the need for basic consumption.

High, persistent unemployment can signal serious distress in an economy and even lead to social and political upheaval.

Sign of an Overheating Economy

A low unemployment rate, on the other hand, means that the economy is more likely to be producing near its full capacity, maximizing output, driving wage growth, and raising living standards over time.

However, extremely low unemployment can also be a cautionary sign of an overheating economy, inflationary pressures, and tight conditions for businesses in need of additional workers.

Categories of Unemployment

While the definition of unemployment is clear, economists divide unemployment into many different categories. The two broadest categories are voluntary and involuntary unemployment. When unemployment is voluntary, it means that a person left their job willingly in search of other employment. When it is involuntary, it means that a person was fired or laid off and must now look for another job.

 

Why Do We Learn?   2025-08-15
Reality Of Islam

A Mathematical Approach to the Quran

10:52:33   2024-02-16  

mediation

2:36:46   2023-06-04  

what Allah hates the most

5:1:47   2023-06-01  

allahs fort

11:41:7   2023-05-30  

striving for success

2:35:47   2023-06-04  

Imam Ali Describes the Holy Quran

5:0:38   2023-06-01  

livelihood

11:40:13   2023-05-30  

silence about wisdom

3:36:19   2023-05-29  

MOST VIEWS

Importance of Media

9:3:43   2018-11-05

Illuminations

your actions

2:5:14   2023-01-28

anti racism

9:30:2   2021-11-12

your character

2:33:4   2023-02-15

true friendship

11:2:27   2022-10-06

life temptations

10:35:40   2022-05-26

use you time well

4:26:43   2022-02-21

logic

12:47:1   2022-12-20



IMmORTAL Words
LATEST Mixing Coffee and Antibiotics Could Be a Bad Idea, Study Shows Breathing Crystal Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Clean Energy Swarms of Tiny Catfish Seen Climbing Waterfalls in Surprise Discovery Localization of Technology Interpretation of Sura Maryam (Mary) - Verse 11 On the Path of Responsibility Your Heart Is Vulnerable. These 4 Things Will Help You Protect It. Your Phone Is Covered in All Kinds of Germs. Here is The Solution. Study Confirms Abrupt Changes in Antarctica – And the World Will Feel Them Rationalizing Reactions Interpretation of Sura Maryam - Verses 9-10 Outcomes of being Adhered to Responsibility