without a job although able to work synonym jobless How long have you been unemployed? an unemployed lawyer an increase in the number of people registered as unemployed Topic CollocationsUnemploymentlosing your job
- lose/quit/leave your job
- get/be fired/ (informal) laid off/ (formal) terminated/asked to resign (for doing something)
- be offered/take early retirement
- face/be threatened with dismissal
- dismiss/fire an employee/a worker/a manager
- lay off staff/workers/employees
- cut/reduce/downsize the workforce
- be unemployed/out of work/out of a job
- look for/seek work/employment
- be on/collect/draw/get/receive unemployment (benefits)
- claim/draw/get/be on/qualify for unemployment (compensation)
- be/go/live/depend on welfare
- collect/receive/apply for/qualify for welfare
- combat/tackle/cut/reduce unemployment
noun [plural] a program to get the long-term unemployed back to work I've joined the ranks of the unemployed (= I've lost my job).See unemployed in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: unemployed