underemployment

[/ˌʌndərɪmˈplɔɪmənt/]
nounpl: underemployments (rarely used in plural)
subemprego
1. The state of being employed in a job that does not fully utilize one's skills, education, or experience
Many college graduates face underemployment in entry-level positions that don't require a degree.
Muitos graduados enfrentam subemprego em posições de nível básico que não exigem um diploma.
2. Employment that is insufficient in terms of hours worked or income compared to one's qualifications or needs
Part-time work combined with underemployment makes it difficult to afford housing.
O trabalho parcial combinado com subemprego torna difícil pagar aluguel.
3. A situation where a worker is employed but at a lower capacity or skill level than available
The economic crisis led to widespread underemployment across the technology sector.
A crise econômica levou a um subemprego generalizado no setor de tecnologia.
Underemployment has become a significant socioeconomic issue in both Brazil and the USA, particularly following economic downturns. In Brazil, it's often discussed in the context of informal economy and labor market inequality. In the USA, it gained prominence after the 2008 financial crisis and remains a concern for recent graduates and career changers.
NYC Slang
getting paid peanuts for what you know
Synonyms / Sinônimos
underutilizationjob mismatchskills mismatchinadequate employment
Antonyms / Antônimos
full employmentoptimal employmentproper employment

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
subemprego
Most common and standard term used in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
subemprego
Same standard usage as rest of Brazil
São Paulo
subemprego
Same standard usage as rest of Brazil
Portugal
subemprego
Portuguese also uses this term, sometimes with slight variations in context

Related Words

unemploymentoverqualifiedjob satisfactionlabor marketemployment gapprecarious work

Related Idioms & Phrases

overqualified for the job
stuck in a dead-end job
not living up to your potential
working below your pay grade
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