The Two Faces of Unemployment
By Michael Russell

What does it really mean when unemployment is discussed?

There is unemployment and there is being unemployed. Being unemployed is simply not having work when a person is willing to work. Unemployment is a little broader in scope and what we will concentrate on. Unemployment is being without work or related to a job loss.

The Two Faces of Unemployment comprise the positive aspects and the negative aspects. Most of us are very aware of the negative aspects such as loss of income, being unable to find employment, difficulties paying bills, depression because of self-confidence and other issues that are related. The positive aspects of unemployment will be discussed later.

How does unemployment relate to our economic times? We read about unemployment all the time and at some time in your career, as the statistics would allow, you will be unemployed. Unemployment is something that has come with our Industrial Economic period. Prior to the Industrial period, when we were an agrarian culture, we may have had idle workers but they weren't considered unemployed as we consider people today.