What does unhirable mean?
Unhirable is an adjective meaning that a person cannot be hired for a job, either because the person lacks the necessary qualifications or because an employer regards them as unsuitable. The word is especially useful when the decision rests on professional judgment rather than a formal rule: a candidate may be qualified on paper yet still be described as unhirable because of a poor work history, unexplained gaps, or other concerns. In ordinary employment language, it is more judgmental than saying that someone is merely unlikely to obtain a position, and it can imply that the obstacle is serious. The adjective commonly appears after verbs such as "consider," "regard," and "deem," making the employer's assessment explicit. Although close to "unemployable," it frequently suggests suitability for a particular employer or role rather than a general inability to find paid work. Unlike the more formal "ineligible," unhirable often leaves the reason for rejection unstated. The spelling "unhireable" is also widely used.
adjectiveUnable to be hired for a job, especially because of insufficient qualifications or because an employer considers the person unsuitable.
- Not hireable; regarded as unable or unsuitable for employment.
"After several unexplained gaps on his résumé, he was considered unhirable despite years of solid experience."
"After several unexplained gaps on his résumé, he was considered unhirable despite years of solid experience."
"The program offers remedial training to candidates who would otherwise be unhirable."
A résumé can list every qualification and still fail the subtler test of whether an employer regards the applicant as unhirable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unhirable come from?
Unhirable is an English formation combining the prefix "un-" with "hire" and the suffix "-able." In this construction, "un-" negates the adjective "hireable" rather than reversing an action, producing the sense "not hireable." The base verb "hire" derives from Old English hȳr, meaning hire or wages.
How unhirable is actually used
Common in informal and professional employment contexts. It may describe an objective lack of qualifications, but it often conveys an employer's negative assessment of a candidate's suitability. The spelling "unhireable" is also widely used.
Easily confused with unhirable
Someone who is unhireable cannot be hired, whereas someone who is unfireable is considered impossible or impracticable to dismiss.