full employment

British  

noun

1. a state in which the labour force and other economic resources of a country are utilized to their maximum

---

full employment Cultural  

1. The condition that exists when all who want work can find jobs. Because some individuals will always be between jobs, full employment does not mean that one hundred percent of the workforce is employed. Rather, it is customarily defined as ninety-six percent of the total potential workforce.

---

Example Sentences

That is the federal-funds rate considered to be neither stimulative nor restrictive — what would prevail if the economy were at full employment but not overheated, with inflation stable.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Other economists think the economy is at full employment, with most workers who want one having a job.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

With Japan already at full employment and underlying inflation hovering near the 2% target, the BOJ must confront the risk that higher energy costs will raise inflation expectations too much, economists say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Within 10 years the territory's GDP would be $10 billion, and households would enjoy average income of $13,000 a year thanks to "100 percent full employment and opportunity for everybody there".

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

This amusement, exercising guns, sails and lead, gave us full employment, and kept us out of mischief.

From A Sailor of King George by Bevan, A. Beckford