die  Massenarbeitslosigkeit

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈmasn̩ˌʔaʁbaɪtsˌloːzɪçkaɪt/

📖 What does 'die Massenarbeitslosigkeit' mean?

Die Massenarbeitslosigkeit describes a state where a very large part of the employable population of a country or region is without employment. It signifies severe economic and social problems.

The term emphasizes the scale of unemployment – it affects not just individuals, but a 'mass' (Masse) of people. It is a specific German term for a high unemployment rate.

The word is feminine, so it's always die Massenarbeitslosigkeit.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar and Declension

The noun 'Massenarbeitslosigkeit' is feminine and generally used only in the singular, as it describes an abstract concept.

A plural form ('die Massenarbeitslosigkeiten') is grammatically possible but very unusual. It could theoretically be used to differentiate between various periods or types of mass unemployment but is avoided in practice.

Example Sentences

1. Die Regierung versucht, die Massenarbeitslosigkeit zu bekämpfen. (The government is trying to combat mass unemployment.)
2. Während der Weltwirtschaftskrise herrschte in vielen Ländern Massenarbeitslosigkeit. (During the Great Depression, mass unemployment prevailed in many countries.)
3. Die Angst vor Massenarbeitslosigkeit wächst aufgrund der Automatisierung. (The fear of mass unemployment is growing due to automation.)

🗣️ Usage in Context: Talking about Massenarbeitslosigkeit

'Massenarbeitslosigkeit' is primarily used in economic, political, and sociological discussions. It's a rather formal term often found in news reports, academic articles, and political debates.

• Typical verbs: bekämpfen (to combat), verhindern (to prevent), herrscht (prevails), droht (threatens), führt zu (leads to)
• Typical adjectives: hohe (high), steigende (rising), sinkende (falling), strukturelle (structural)
• Context: Wirtschaftskrisen (economic crises), Strukturwandel (structural change), politische Maßnahmen zur Arbeitsförderung (political measures for employment promotion).

Compared to 'Arbeitslosigkeit' (unemployment) or 'hohe Arbeitslosigkeit' (high unemployment), 'Massenarbeitslosigkeit' underscores the severity and scale of the problem and its societal impact.

🧠 Mnemonics

Article Mnemonic: Think of 'die Krise' (the crisis) or 'die Lage' (the situation). Mass unemployment is a serious situation, a crisis – hence die Massenarbeitslosigkeit.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: 'Massen' (masses/large numbers of people) + 'Arbeitslosigkeit' (unemployment). It literally means 'unemployment of the masses'.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Note: 'Arbeitslosigkeit' is the general term. 'Massenarbeitslosigkeit' specifically emphasizes the high level.

😂 A Little Joke

German:
Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie Hobbys?"
Sagt der Mitarbeiter: "Ja, ich suche Arbeit!"
Chef: "Aber Sie haben doch gerade erst angefangen?"
Mitarbeiter: "Man muss ja optimistisch bleiben und für die Zukunft planen, falls die Massenarbeitslosigkeit wieder zuschlägt!"

English Translation:
The boss asks the new employee: "Do you have any hobbies?"
The employee replies: "Yes, looking for work!"
Boss: "But you just started here?"
Employee: "Well, one has to stay optimistic and plan for the future, in case mass unemployment strikes again!"

✍️ Poem about Massenarbeitslosigkeit

German:
Stempelkarte kalt und leer,
die Fabriktore schließen schwer.
Die Straßen voll, die Hoffnung klein,
Massenarbeitslosigkeit zieht ein.
Ein Schatten auf dem Wohlstandslicht,
ein Heer von Händen findet Arbeit nicht.
Die Politik sucht einen Plan,
für Arbeit, Würde, irgendwann.

English Translation:
Time card cold and bare,
The factory gates close with heavy air.
Streets are full, hope is small,
Mass unemployment enters all.
A shadow on prosperity's light,
An army of hands finds no work in sight.
Politics searches for a scheme,
For work, for dignity, a future dream.

🧩 Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Zustand, ernst und schwer,
betreffe viele, immer mehr.
Fabriken schließen, Büros sind leer,
die Suche nach 'nem Job fällt schwer.
Ein Wort beschreibt die große Not,
wenn vielen Menschen Arbeit droht
verloren zu geh'n, für lange Zeit.
Wie heißt die Plage weit und breit?

English Translation:
I am a condition, serious and grave,
Affecting many, wave after wave.
Factories close, offices are bare,
The search for a job is hard to bear.
One word describes this great distress,
When work for many threatens
To be lost, for a long time's plight.
What is this plague spread far and wide?
Solution: die Massenarbeitslosigkeit

💡 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word is a compound noun (Kompositum), made up of:

• Masse(n)-: Refers to a large number, a mass. The '-n' is a linking element (Fugen-n).
• Arbeitslosigkeit: This itself is a compound word: 'Arbeit' (work) + '-s-' (linking element, Fugen-s) + '-los' (suffix: -less) + '-igkeit' (suffix forming abstract nouns, like -ness or -ity).

Together, the meaning is roughly 'the state of being without work of a large mass of people'.

Historical Context:

The term gained particular significance during the Great Depression starting in 1929 and during economically difficult periods in Germany after the World Wars and following reunification.