Economics (9214) | Employment and unemployment

👋 Hello and Welcome to Employment & Unemployment!

This chapter is super important because low unemployment is one of the main goals (or objectives) of any government. If the government can't keep people working, the economy suffers, and society struggles.
In these notes, we'll learn exactly what employment means, how economists measure joblessness, why people become unemployed, and the huge impact this has on the country. Ready to dive in? Let's go!

1. The Basics: Defining Work and Joblessness

Before we talk about government targets, we need clear definitions.

Key Definitions

• Employment: Simply means being engaged in a job or work for which you are paid. An employed person is contributing to the country's output (GDP).
• Unemployment: This is defined as people who are able to work, willing to work, and are actively seeking employment, but currently do not have a job.
• The Labour Force (or Workforce): This is the total number of people in an economy who are either employed or unemployed. (It excludes people who are retired, full-time students, or not seeking work.)

Analogy: Think of the Labour Force as a football squad. The Employed are the players currently on the pitch. The Unemployed are the skilled players sitting on the bench, ready and wanting to get into the game.

2. Measuring Unemployment: The Numbers Game

To know if they are hitting their objective, governments need to measure unemployment accurately. The key figure economists use is the Unemployment Rate.

How the Unemployment Rate is Calculated

The unemployment rate tells us the percentage of the Labour Force that is currently out of work.

The formula is:

\[\text{Unemployment Rate} = \frac{\text{Number of Unemployed}}{\text{Labour Force}} \times 100\]

Example: If a country has 100 million people in its labour force, and 5 million people are unemployed, the unemployment rate is 5%.

Difficulties in Measuring Unemployment

It sounds simple, but getting an accurate number is very tricky! Official statistics often miss people, meaning the real joblessness problem might be worse than reported.

• 1. Hidden Unemployment (Discouraged Workers): These are people who have been unemployed for so long that they give up actively looking for a job. Since they are no longer "actively seeking," they are taken out of the Labour Force and are no longer counted as unemployed. They are ‘hidden’ from the statistics, which makes the unemployment rate look artificially lower.
• 2. Underemployment: This refers to people who are working, but not utilising their full skills, or those who are working part-time but desperately want a full-time job. (Example: A highly skilled engineer working as a shop assistant because they can’t find an engineering role.) They are counted as Employed, but they are not fully contributing to the economy.

3. The Different Types of Unemployment

Unemployment isn't just one problem; it has different causes. Understanding the type of unemployment helps the government choose the right way to fix it.

A. Frictional Unemployment

This is short-term unemployment that occurs when people are in between jobs, or taking time to find the best possible job after graduating or leaving a previous role.
Example: A manager leaves Company A and spends two months interviewing at Company B and C before accepting a new role.
Frictional unemployment is usually seen as a healthy sign of a flexible labour market. It is nearly impossible (and perhaps undesirable) to eliminate completely.

Memory Aid: Frictional = Fast (short-term) or Freedom to look.

B. Structural Unemployment

This is the most serious type. It is long-term unemployment caused by deep, lasting changes in the economy.

• Skills Mismatch: The skills of the unemployed workers don't match the skills required for the jobs that are available.
• Industry Decline: An entire industry (like manufacturing or coal mining) shuts down due to technological change or competition from overseas.
• Geographical Immobility: Jobs might be available, but the unemployed person cannot afford or is unwilling to move to where those jobs are located.

Example: A factory closes in a small town. The workers are experts at assembly line work, but the only new jobs opening up are in digital marketing 200 miles away.

C. Cyclical Unemployment (Demand-Deficient)

This type is directly linked to the economy's performance, specifically during a recession or economic slowdown.

• When the economy slows down, Aggregate Demand (total spending) falls.
• Firms don't sell as many products, so they don't need as many workers.
• They lay off staff, leading to cyclical unemployment.

Example: During the 2008 financial crisis, spending on cars, holidays, and homes dropped sharply. The companies making those things cut thousands of jobs.

4. The Cost of Unemployment: Why Governments Must Act

High unemployment is damaging. It prevents the economy from meeting its maximum potential. Governments aim for 'Full Employment,' which means the only remaining unemployment is the necessary frictional and some structural unemployment.

Economic Costs

• 1. Lost Output (Lower GDP): Unemployed workers are not producing goods and services. This means the country's total output (GDP) is lower than it could be. We are operating inside our Production Possibility Frontier (PPF).
• 2. Lower Tax Revenue: Unemployed people pay less (or no) Income Tax or Value Added Tax (VAT) because they aren't earning or spending as much. The government collects less money.
• 3. Higher Government Spending on Benefits: The government must spend more money on unemployment benefits and support schemes, diverting funds away from areas like education or healthcare.
• 4. Opportunity Cost: The money spent on benefits could have been used to invest in infrastructure (like roads or hospitals), which would have boosted long-term economic growth.

Social Costs

The consequences of unemployment go far beyond money and numbers:

• Increased Poverty and Inequality: Unemployed individuals and families suffer financially, often leading to poverty, social deprivation, and a wider gap between the rich and the poor.
• Loss of Self-Esteem and Health Issues: Losing a job can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and loss of valuable skills over time.
• Increased Crime Rates: In areas with very high unemployment, desperation can sometimes lead to increases in property crime.

Key Takeaway: Government Objective

Achieving a low and stable rate of unemployment is a core government objective because it ensures the economy is running efficiently, maximizing output (GDP), and minimizing the social and financial burdens on the state. The ideal rate usually targets only the frictional unemployment that cannot be avoided.

That’s everything for this chapter! Make sure you can define the types of unemployment and explain the massive costs they inflict. Good luck!