unemployment

noun

1. the state of being unemployed, especially involuntarily: Automation poses a threat of unemployment for many unskilled workers.
2. the number of persons who are unemployed.
3. Informal. unemployment benefit.

noun

1. the condition of being unemployed
2. the number of unemployed workers, often as a percentage of the total labour force

n.1888, from un- (1) “not” + employment.