Which term defines a person over 15 who is actively looking for work and capable of starting work in the near future?

• A. Labour Force
• B. Participation rate
• C. Unemployment
• D. Underemployment

Answer: (C)

Unemployment is the state of not having a job while actively seeking work and being available to start soon. The description fits perfectly: a person of working age who isn’t employed but is actively looking for work and can start in the near future. The other terms describe broader concepts or different situations: the labour force includes both those who are employed and those who are unemployed; the participation rate measures what portion of the working-age population is in the labour force; underemployment refers to people who are employed but want more hours or a better match to their skills. So this person is best described as unemployed.