underemployment

Underemployment describes individuals employed in jobs that do not fully utilize their skills, training, or availability. This can include those working part-time when they desire full-time employment, seasonal workers, or individuals whose education exceeds their job requirements. It is distinct from unemployment, which refers to those actively seeking work but unable to find any. Statistics on underemployment, like those for unemployment, are monitored as indicators of economic health, and governments often aim for policies that promote full employment, which is not necessarily a zero unemployment rate.12