What does unemployability mean?
Unemployability is the condition of being unable, or facing substantial obstacles, in obtaining paid employment. Unlike unemployment, which primarily describes not having a job, unemployability often implies that finding work is difficult or unlikely because of factors such as insufficient skills, ill health, disability, age, discrimination, or the demands of the local labour market. The term is especially common in employment policy, benefits, vocational training, and labour-market research, although it can also be used in ordinary discussion. Employers and governments may discuss measures that reduce unemployability, such as retraining, rehabilitation, work-experience programmes, or adjustments in the workplace. It is a useful word because it distinguishes the personal or structural barriers to employment from the simple absence of a job, although it is more technical and less common than unemployment.
nounThe state or condition of being unable or considered unlikely to obtain paid employment, especially because of a lack of qualifications, health, age, disability, or other circumstances. It is more specific than unemployment, which can describe the condition of not having a job without implying that the person is unable to find one.
- The condition of being unable or unlikely to obtain employment, especially as a result of personal, social, economic, or institutional barriers.
"The report found that many participants faced unemployability rather than simply a shortage of vacancies."
"The employment programme was designed to address long-term unemployability."
"His qualifications and language skills reduced his unemployability in the local labour market."
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon; it is usually more natural to refer to different kinds, forms, or degrees of unemployability.
"The programme addresses several distinct forms of unemployability."
Unemployment says you have no job; unemployability asks the harder question: what is keeping you from getting one?
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unemployability come from?
Unemployability was formed in English by combining the negative prefix un- with employ and the suffix -ability. It belongs to the familiar employment, employer, and employee family of words, all of which refer to taking on or being engaged in work. The form follows the English pattern of creating an abstract noun with -ability to express a state or quality.
Related word forms
How unemployability is actually used
This is a formal and relatively uncommon noun, especially associated with labour-market policy, employment services, and social-security discussions. In general American usage, unemployment is more frequent; unemployability often appears in specialist or institutional contexts and can sound technical or bureaucratic.
Easily confused with unemployability
Unemployment is the state of not having a job, whereas unemployability emphasizes an inability or persistent difficulty in obtaining employment.