- 1 the fact of a number of people not having a job; the number of people without a job an area of high/low unemployment rising/falling unemployment It was a time of mass unemployment. measures to help reduce/tackle unemployment the level/rate of unemployment unemployment benefit/statistics a rise in both inflation and unemployment CollocationsThe economyManaging the economy handle/run/manage the economy boost investment/spending/employment/growth stimulate demand/the economy/industry cut/reduce investment/spending/borrowing reduce/curb/control/keep down inflation create/fuel growth/demand/a boom/a bubble encourage/foster/promote/stimulate/stifle innovation/competition encourage/work with/compete with the private sector increase/boost/promote US/agricultural exports ban/restrict/block cheap/foreign imports the economy grows/expands/shrinks/contracts/slows (down)/recovers/improves/is booming enjoy an economic/housing/property boomEconomic problems push up/drive up prices/costs/inflation damage/hurt/destroy industry/the economy cause/lead to/go into/avoid/escape recession experience/suffer a recession/downturn fight/combat inflation/deflation/unemployment cause/create inflation/poverty/unemployment create/burst a housing/stock market bubble cause/trigger a stock market crash/the collapse of the banking system face/be plunged into a financial/an economic crisis be caught in/experience cycles of boom and bustPublic finance cut/reduce/slash/increase/double the defence/(especially US English) defense/education/aid budget increase/boost/slash/cut public spending increase/put up/raise/cut/lower/reduce taxes raise/cut/lower/reduce interest rates ease/loosen/tighten monetary policy balance the (state/federal) budget achieve/maintain a balanced budget run a ($4 trillion) budget deficit/surplus politics, vote Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivedouble-digit, high, huge, … … of unemploymentlevel, rate verb + unemploymentbe faced with, face, cause, … unemployment + verbclimb, double, increase, … unemployment + nounbenefit, benefits, compensation, … prepositionunemployment among phrasesa period of unemployment, a rise in unemployment, an increase in unemployment, … See full entry
- 2 the state of not having a job Thousands of young people are facing long-term unemployment. a study of male/female unemployment compare employment Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivedouble-digit, high, huge, … … of unemploymentlevel, rate verb + unemploymentbe faced with, face, cause, … unemployment + verbclimb, double, increase, … unemployment + nounbenefit, benefits, compensation, … prepositionunemployment among phrasesa period of unemployment, a rise in unemployment, an increase in unemployment, … See full entry
- 3(US English) = unemployment benefit Since losing his job, Mike has been collecting unemployment. CollocationsUnemploymentLosing your job lose your job (British English) become/be made redundant be offered/take voluntary redundancy/early retirement face/be threatened with dismissal/(British English) the sack/(British English) compulsory redundancy dismiss/fire/ (especially British English) sack an employee/a worker/a manager lay off staff/workers/employees (Australian English, New Zealand English, South African English) retrench workers cut/reduce/downsize/slash the workforce (British English) make staff/workers/employees redundantBeing unemployed be unemployed/out of work/out of a job seek/look for work/employment be on/collect/draw/get/receive (both British English) unemployment benefit/jobseeker’s allowance be/go/live/sign (British English, informal) on the dole claim/draw/get (British English, informal) the dole be on/qualify for (North American English) unemployment (compensation) be/go/live/depend (North American English) on welfare collect/receive (North American English) welfare combat/tackle/cut/reduce unemployment Wordfinderpoorbeg, benefit, charity, homeless, hostel, the poor, poverty, shanty town, sweatshop, unemploymentExtra examples New claims for unemployment benefits remain low. The county’s unemployment rate has dropped to 9%. The unemployment trap exists when an unemployed person on benefit would be worse off in a low-paid job. This former mining town is now an unemployment black spot. Unemployment among graduates is falling steadily. Unemployment averaged 15% across the country. Unemployment climbed above two million. Unemployment has hit unskilled workers in particular. Unemployment hit 10% in 1982. Unemployment reached 30%. Unemployment touched 30%. It’s an area of high unemployment. Last month saw a rise in both inflation and unemployment. New measures are needed to tackle unemployment. Scottish unemployment rates were lower than the UK average. They carried out a study of male unemployment. Thousands of young people are facing long-term unemployment.
Check pronunciation: unemployment
