What does unemployable mean?
Unemployable means unable to obtain employment, usually because a person's skills, qualifications, health, or circumstances do not match the jobs available. As an adjective, it describes people or, by extension, their circumstances or skills; as a noun, it refers to a person considered unable to secure work. It differs from unemployed, which primarily states that someone currently has no job and may be looking for one or may leave it soon. Unemployable carries a stronger implication of a mismatch or lasting obstacle. The word is especially common in discussions of labour markets, retraining, disability, social policy, and economic change. It can also be applied metaphorically to something poorly suited to practical use. Understanding the distinction helps avoid implying that people who lack work are necessarily permanently or personally incapable of employment.
Unable to be employed, especially because one's abilities, qualifications, or circumstances are not considered suitable for available work.
"The scheme offers support to people who have been unemployed for a long period and may otherwise be considered unemployable."
Often used in formal labour-market and social-policy contexts. It is stronger than merely having no current job.
A person who is considered unable to obtain or retain suitable employment.
"The employer argued that the applicant was an unemployable because of repeated absences."
Less common than the adjective and often somewhat institutional in tone.
Being unemployed can mean that the job market is having a bad day; being unemployable suggests the fit between your abilities and the available work is the problem.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unemployable come from?
The word was formed in 19th-century English by combining the negative prefix un- with employable, a form based on employ and the suffix -able. Employ entered English through Old French from Latin implicare, originally associated with involving or entangling, before developing its modern occupational meaning of hiring someone for work. Related English forms include employable, employment, employee, and employer.
Related word forms
How unemployable is actually used
The adjective is formal and relatively common in employment policy, education, social welfare, and labour-market contexts. As a noun, it is less frequent and can sound more institutional or categorical than the more neutral expression unemployed person. The term may also be used metaphorically for skills, qualifications, or objects that cannot readily be used productively.
Easily confused with unemployable
Unemployed describes someone who currently has no paid job, whether temporarily or permanently, whereas unemployable describes someone considered unable to obtain suitable employment.