die  Arbeitslosigkeit

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʁbaɪtsˌloːzɪçkaɪt/

🤔 What exactly does "die Arbeitslosigkeit" mean?

Die Arbeitslosigkeit (noun, feminine) refers to the state of being unemployed, meaning when a person who is able and willing to work cannot find paid employment. It's a central concept in economics and social policy.

• It describes both the individual condition of a person without work and the overall economic phenomenon (e.g., high or low unemployment in a country).
• The term implies involuntary joblessness; people who do not want to work or cannot work (e.g., retirees, students not seeking a job) are usually not counted as unemployed in the statistical sense.

⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse it with "Arbeitsunfähigkeit" (inability to work due to health reasons).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Arbeitslosigkeit"

"Arbeitslosigkeit" is a feminine noun. It is mostly used in the singular as it describes an abstract concept. The plural ("die Arbeitslosigkeiten") is very rare and only used when distinguishing between different types or cases of unemployment.

Declension (Beugung)

(Plural rarely used)

Example Sentences

• Die Arbeitslosigkeit in der Region ist besorgniserregend hoch. (Unemployment in the region is worryingly high.)
• Die Bekämpfung der Arbeitslosigkeit hat oberste Priorität. (Combating unemployment is the top priority.)
• Mit hoher Arbeitslosigkeit gehen oft soziale Probleme einher. (High unemployment often goes hand in hand with social problems.)
• Die Regierung will die Arbeitslosigkeit senken. (The government wants to reduce unemployment.)

💡 How to use "Arbeitslosigkeit"?

"Arbeitslosigkeit" is used in many contexts:

• Economics: Discussions about the economic cycle (Konjunktur), labor market statistics (Arbeitslosenquote - unemployment rate), economic policy.
• Politics: Debates about social benefits (Arbeitslosengeld - unemployment benefits), labor market reforms, political platforms.
• Sociology: Research on the social consequences of unemployment (poverty, exclusion, health).
• Everyday life: Conversations about one's own situation or that of acquaintances, news reports.

Typical Collocations:

• hohe / niedrige Arbeitslosigkeit (high / low unemployment)
• steigende / sinkende Arbeitslosigkeit (rising / falling unemployment)
• strukturelle / konjunkturelle / saisonale Arbeitslosigkeit (structural / cyclical / seasonal unemployment)
• Jugendarbeitslosigkeit / Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit (youth / long-term unemployment)
• Bekämpfung der Arbeitslosigkeit (combating unemployment)
• von Arbeitslosigkeit betroffen sein (to be affected by unemployment)

🧠 Mnemonics for "Arbeitslosigkeit"

For the article (die): Many German nouns ending in "-heit" or "-keit" are feminine (die). Think of: die Möglichkeit (possibility), die Gesundheit (health), die Fröhlichkeit (happiness)... and also die Arbeitslosigkeit. It represents 'the state' or 'the condition' of being jobless.

For the meaning: Break down the word: Arbeit (work) + -s- (linking element) + los (without/less) + -igkeit (suffix indicating a state or quality). So, it literally means: The state (-igkeit) of being without (-los) work (Arbeit).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😄 A little joke

German: Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie Hobbys?" Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ja, ich suche gerne Arbeit." Chef: "Aber Sie haben doch gerade erst hier angefangen?" Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ja, aber man weiß ja nie..." 😉

English: The boss asks the new employee: "Do you have any hobbies?" The employee replies: "Yes, I enjoy looking for work." Boss: "But you just started here?" The employee replies: "Yes, but you never know..." 😉

📜 A short poem

German:
Die Tage schleichen, still und leer,
die Arbeitslosigkeit wiegt schwer.
Kein Ruf, kein Job, die Zeit verrinnt,
wo Hoffnung neu beginnt? Doch Mut bleibt, tief im Herzen drin,
auf einen neuen Sinn.

English Translation:
The days creep by, silent and bare,
unemployment, a heavy care.
No call, no job, time slips away,
where does new hope begin its day?
But courage stays, deep down inside,
for a new purpose to provide.

🧩 Little Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Zustand, keine Tat,
von Politik und Wirtschaft oft im Spagat.
Hab' ich dich fest in meinem Griff,
fühlst du dich oft wie auf einem sinkenden Schiff.
Statistiken messen meine Zahl,
bin ich zu hoch, ist's eine Qual.
Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I am a state, not an act,
often caught between politics and economic fact.
If I have you firmly in my grip,
you often feel like on a sinking ship.
Statistics measure my amount,
if I'm too high, troubles mount.

What am I? (Solution: die Arbeitslosigkeit / unemployment)

ℹ️ Additional Info

Word Formation

The word "Arbeitslosigkeit" is a compound noun with a suffix:

• Arbeit (noun: work)
• -s- (linking element, often used in German compounds)
• los (adjective: without, -less)
• -igkeit (suffix used to form feminine nouns indicating a state or quality)

Context

Arbeitslosigkeit is a complex issue with many facets, including individual fates, economic cycles, technological changes (e.g., automation), and political measures (e.g., social systems, retraining programs). The Arbeitslosenquote (unemployment rate – the percentage of the labor force that is jobless) is a key indicator of a country's economic health.