Question

4. [From last year's 2nd midterm] Are the following people (likely to be) counted as unemployed? Briefly explain your answer. a. Joris just lost his job as Econ TA after having been wrongly accused of selling exam questions. He sits at home, depressed, but would be available for a job starting tomorrow morning. b. Iskander sells stolen exam questions for a living (he usually accuses a random TA when he gets caught). He makes quite a good living but does not have an official job. C. Sarah has a part-time job at Dunkin'. She is actively looking for a full-time, better-paying job and drops her CV off left and right. She would be available right now for such a job. d. Manuela just lost her part-time job at Dunkin'. She is actively looking for a full-time job and drops her CV off left and right. She would be available right now for such a job. e. Xiang will graduate at the end of this semester and is actively looking for a job that would start right after graduation (roughly Jan 1st 2019).

Answer 1

a) Joris can't be counted as unemployed as although he is without job and willing to start tomorrow, but he has lost his job due to a cause or his negligence stated by employer. Also, he is yet to look actively for work.  

b)  Iskander can't be counted as unemployed as he is not looking for job nor was employed. He depends on random tasks for livelihood. He is not willing or open to work, which is the main criteria of unemployment.

c) Sarah can't be counted as Unemployed as she already has a job, but is looking for a better paid one. This is a case of underemployment, where a person has a job but looking for a better one on the basis of skill and pay.

d) Manuela can be counted Unemployed as she doesn't have any work right now, but is willing to join one if available. Part time jobs are also considered part of active work force, hence the criteria for unemployed remains the same.    

e) Xiang can't be counted as unemployed as he isn't looking for the job immediately but only to join after his graduation. He is yet to be counted as part of work force.