desempleo

unemployment

noun deh-sem-PLEH-oh Less Common

Origin: From des- (un-) + empleo (employment).

Usage Note

Desempleo is the standard Latin American term for unemployment; in Spain the usual word is paro (m) (estar en paro, 'to be unemployed'). The related adjective is desempleado/a ('unemployed'). The rate is called tasa de desempleo (f). Desempleo is always used in economic and policy contexts, while paro also colloqially refers to unemployment benefit in Spain.

Examples

"La tasa de desempleo bajó este trimestre."

Natural Translation

The unemployment rate fell this quarter.

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