underemployment
noun
un·der·em·ploy·ment
ˌən-dər-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 
1
: the condition in which people in a labor force are employed at less than full-time or regular jobs or at jobs inadequate with respect to their training or economic needs
2
: the condition of being underemployed
Examples of underemployment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates surged to 5.8% in March, the highest since July 2021, while the underemployment rate spiked to 41.2%, the highest since February 2022, according to New York Federal Reserve data.
—
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 1 May 2025
Broadly speaking, liberal arts degrees tend to have the highest underemployment rates, while education and engineering degrees tend to have the lowest.
—Raul Elizalde, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
More importantly, these businesses are more likely to employ individuals from our community, directly addressing local unemployment and underemployment issues.
—Tom Grech, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
The film also shows the value of local businesses and community cohesion in helping to address the chronic underemployment of disabled people.
3.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underemployment
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 1 May 2025
Broadly speaking, liberal arts degrees tend to have the highest underemployment rates, while education and engineering degrees tend to have the lowest.
—Raul Elizalde, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
More importantly, these businesses are more likely to employ individuals from our community, directly addressing local unemployment and underemployment issues.
—Tom Grech, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
The film also shows the value of local businesses and community cohesion in helping to address the chronic underemployment of disabled people.
3.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underemployment
Cite this Entry
“Underemployment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underemployment. Accessed 10 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share