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 age group's underemployment rate, which tracks the amount of graduates working jobs that usually don’t require a college degree, rose to 42.5% in the fourth quarter – its highest level since 2020. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026

Ever optimistic, Mary puts on a happy face amid the chronic underemployment of her professor husband, Howard (Corey Stoll). —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026

Johnson says underemployment also helps explain why many veterans quit their first civilian job soon after being hired. —Monique John, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

Students must sign up by October 6 to gain crucial skills and combat underemployment. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for underemployment

• deployment
• employment
• enjoyment
• preemployment
• redeployment
• reemployment
• unemployment