underemployment
5
4.9
- noun
- /ˌʌndərɪmˈplɔɪmənt/
:
subempleo
- The report highlighted the issue of underemployment, showing that many workers are not fully utilizing their skills.
- underemployment and unemployment
- high levels of underemployment
- chronic underemployment
Examples
-
In our town, underemployment has become common, with many people taking part-time jobs that do not match their education.
-
The city has a young age structure and very high levels of underemployment and unemployment.
Academic text (2002) -
As a result, there is severe underemployment in the rural areas of the Northeast.
Academic text (1998) -
Inflation runs from between 40 to 200 percent; unemployment has increased to 30 percent, while underemployment is 75 percent.
Academic text (1997) -
California still has a headline unemployment rate of 10.8 percent and an underemployment rate of 20 percent.
Blog text (3) -
Furthermore, Cuba has significant underemployment and a high demand for exit visas, especially on the part of professionals.
Academic text (2006) -
Why are we, the people, settling for this plague of perpetual underemployment in the wealthiest country in the world?
Academic text (2016) -
Unemployment and underemployment among blacks is currently running at a staggering 45-50 percent.
Academic text (1993) -
For this generation, long-term unemployment or underemployment threatens to become structural.
Blog text (2) -
Many recent graduates are facing underemployment as they work jobs unrelated to their degrees.
Antonyms
- Specialized
10
4.1
A situation where everyone who wants and can work at current pay has a job
How Employed
Surface Forms
Morphology
underemployment = employment (transparent) = under + employ + ment
The meaning is directly derived from adding 'under-' (insufficiently, below standard) to the familiar noun 'employment'.
Etymology
Underemployment comes from the parts under- meaning 'not enough' or 'below' and employment from employ meaning 'to use' or 'to give work'. So underemployment is when someone has a job that does not fully 'use' their skills, time, or training.