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
For one, the market is weighing a weekend post from Citrini Research, which imagined a future scenario where AI drives dramatic productivity boosts and mass underemployment.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 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
Unemployment is officially reported at 4.0%, but much underemployment remains.
From The 1993 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.
