out-of-work
Between positions now
Out-of-work describes someone currently without employment: an out-of-work actor, out-of-work coal miners.
The term emphasizes the person's profession or trade—they have skills but no job using them.
It functions as an adjective before nouns or after linking verbs: He's been out of work for six months.
The hyphens typically appear when it precedes a noun.
Lacking paid employment
- unemployedWithout a job
- laid-offTerminated from employment
- redundantExceeding what's needed
- furloughedGranted mandatory unpaid leave
dismissed · underemployed · nonworking · seeking · available · unhired · sacked · terminated
Comfort and prosperity
- severanceTermination pay or disconnection
- assistanceSupport or aid given
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
- compensationPayment for services rendered
Labored effort against resistance
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- povertySevere lack of resources
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
destitution · scarcity · adversity · setback · frustration · desperation · hopelessness · stigma
Practical uses or requests
- interviewsFormal evaluative conversations
- resumeCareer summary document
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- headhunterOne who finds executives
LinkedIn · recruiter · portfolio · references · callbacks · rejections · freelancing · retraining
Prolonged economic decline
- layoffsMass job eliminations
- downturnEconomic decline period
- downsizingReducing workforce or scale
- outsourcingThird-party task delegation
offshoring · automation · restructuring · cutbacks · redundancies
jobless
Lacking paid employment
- unemployedWithout a job
- laid-offTerminated from employment
- redundantExceeding what's needed
furloughed · dismissed · underemployed · nonworking · seeking · available · unhired · sacked · terminated · downsized
welfare
Comfort and prosperity
- severanceTermination pay or disconnection
- assistanceSupport or aid given
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
compensation · allowance · aid
struggle
Labored effort against resistance
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- povertySevere lack of resources
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
stress · destitution · scarcity · adversity · setback · frustration · desperation · hopelessness · stigma · isolation
applications
Practical uses or requests
- interviewsFormal evaluative conversations
- resumeCareer summary document
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
headhunter · LinkedIn · recruiter · portfolio · references · callbacks · rejections · freelancing · retraining · upskilling
recession
Prolonged economic decline
- layoffsMass job eliminations
- downturnEconomic decline period
- downsizingReducing workforce or scale
outsourcing · offshoring · automation · restructuring · cutbacks · redundancies
out-of-workemployed
Having paid work
working · on the job · hired · salaried · breadwinning
out-of-workin service
Functioning and available
working · operational · functioning · active · in operation
work, worker, workers, output, workout, workforce, overwork, workman, workmen