underemployment

American  

[uhn-der-em-ploi-muhnt] / ˌʌn dər ɛmˈplɔɪ mənt /

noun

1. inadequate or insufficient paid work.

2. failure to make adequate or expected use of something.

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Example Sentences

Underemployment and underutilization both fell in December, while hours worked rose, the data showed.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Crucially, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% from 4.4%, while the U-6 underemployment rate increased to 8.7% from 8.0%.

From MarketWatch

The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, slightly overshooting consensus forecasts, while a measure of underemployment that tracks part-time workers looking to go full time jumped to a four-year high.

From The Wall Street Journal

But that data obscures the conditions that come with immigrating to the United States in the first place: The U.S. immigration system mostly enables highly skilled African workers to emigrate to the country, and if you dig into that MPI study, it shows that Black immigrants still face underemployment and lower wages than American-born Black people.

From Slate