underemployment
Americannoun
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inadequate or insufficient paid work.
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failure to make adequate or expected use of something.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What kind of economy is India building - one that can match rising aspirations with real opportunity, or one that leaves millions navigating underemployment and drift?
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
Analysts at Morgan Stanley believe India will require an average GDP growth rate of 12.2 percent to truly tackle underemployment.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
The fourth-quarter jobless rate for new grads rose to 5.7%, from 5.3%, in the third quarter, while the underemployment rate climbed to its highest point since 2020.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 28, 2026
Some expect layoffs in early 2026 as the economy struggles to grow amid ongoing trade uncertainty and weak domestic demand, which could push the underemployment rate back above 7%, while others continue to anticipate improvement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
Real GDP growth in 1985-95 averaged about 7%, quite impressive, but not sufficient to both slash underemployment and absorb the 2.3 million workers annually entering the labor force.
From The 1996 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
