unemployable
Lacking job prospects
Unemployable describes someone considered unsuitable for employment—whether due to lack of skills, poor work history, health issues, or other barriers.
The word often carries judgment about a person's worth: The system treats ex-convicts as unemployable.
Sometimes used self-deprecatingly: After three years of freelancing, I'm basically unemployable.
Not meeting requirements
- incompetentLacking necessary skill
- unskilledLacking acquired competence
- untrainedLacking learned skills
- inexperiencedLacking practical knowledge
incapable · unfit · unsuitable · uncredentialed · unlicensed · unaccredited · undereducated · unadaptable
Treated unequally based on category
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- stereotypedReduced to oversimplified traits
- prejudicedBiased against a group
- typecastRepeatedly assigned similar roles
ageism · ableism · bias · overlooked · dismissed · judged · labeled · profiled
Declared unfit to compete
- barredBlocked from entry
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- excludedShut out, denied entry
- rejectedRefused or turned away
blackballed · unhirable · references · terminated · fired · dismissed · disgraced · discredited
Exceeding what's needed
- automatedOperating without human control
- outsourcedAssigned to external parties
- displacedShifted from proper location
- downsizedReduced in scale
laid-off · surplus · obsolescent · outdated · outmoded · irrelevant · superseded · phased-out
Having lost confidence or enthusiasm
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- demoralizedStripped of confidence
- despairingCompletely without hope
- resignedYielded to circumstances
helpless · dejected · futile · bleak · despondent · disheartened · unmotivated · directionless
ineligible
Not meeting requirements
- incompetentLacking necessary skill
- unskilledLacking acquired competence
- untrainedLacking learned skills
inexperienced · incapable · unfit · unsuitable · uncredentialed · unlicensed · unaccredited · undereducated · unadaptable · inept
discriminated
Treated unequally based on category
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- stereotypedReduced to oversimplified traits
- prejudicedBiased against a group
typecast · ageism · ableism · bias · overlooked · dismissed · judged · labeled · profiled · disadvantaged
disqualified
Declared unfit to compete
rejected · blackballed · unhirable · references · terminated · fired · dismissed · disgraced · discredited · tainted
redundant
Exceeding what's needed
- automatedOperating without human control
- outsourcedAssigned to external parties
- displacedShifted from proper location
downsized · laid-off · surplus · obsolescent · outdated · outmoded · irrelevant · superseded · phased-out · restructured
discouraged
Having lost confidence or enthusiasm
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- demoralizedStripped of confidence
- despairingCompletely without hope
resigned · helpless · dejected · futile · bleak · despondent · disheartened · unmotivated · directionless · stuck
unemployableemployable
Suitable for work
hireable · highly qualified · in demand · marketable · qualified
unemployableserviceable
Fit for purpose
operable · usable · functional · available · workable
unemployablein-demand
Widely wanted, actively pursued
desirable · headhunted · recruitable · prized · coveted