underemployment

Vocabulary Word

Definition

The term 'underemployment' refers to the state of being employed, but in a job that is below one's skills, educational degree, or full-time capacity. It includes overqualified workers as well as part-time workers who desire full-time jobs.

Examples in Different Contexts

In tech, a software engineer doing basic data entry is an example of underemployment, as their programming skills are not being used to their full potential.

Practice Scenarios

Tech

Scenario:

Our talented tech team seems to spend more time troubleshooting than innovating. We might need to reassess our allocation of work.

Response:

I agree. It seems we have underemployment within our team. Maybe we could delegate routine tasks to junior staff.

Economics

Scenario:

The stagnant economic growth coupled with the rise in college graduates paints a worrying picture of the labor market.

Response:

Indeed, the high underemployment rates among recent graduates signal an urgent need to reevaluate our economic policies.