| YES | if the statement agrees with the views of the writer |
| NO | if the statement contradicts the views of the writer |
| NOT GIVEN | if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this |
Counting the Jobless
Measuring unemployment is not as simple as it sounds
Few economic indicators are as politically charged as unemployment rates. Britain’s Conservative government is often accused of having changed its definitions of unemployment to reduce the published rate. Unemployment rates are also used to judge the tightness of labour markets: declining rates signal a tight market for labour and hence, eventually, pressure for higher wages. And they are used to assess the degree of social pressure that is caused by joblessness. To many politicians, particularly in continental Europe, persistently high unemployment rates are a constant reminder of the failure of their economic policies. Yet official measures of unemployment, based on surveys of the labour market, may not be as useful as many think.
To qualify as unemployed in industrialized countries, a person must be without a job, taking active measures to find one and available to start work (usually immediately). Some maintain that this definition of unemployment is too loose. They point out that some of those counted as unemployed by official number crunchers may actually be working in the black economy. So high official unemployment rates may not necessarily mean that there is little upward pressure on wages. Others complain that the definition is too restrictive. Many people, such as those who are no longer actively looking for work, are classified as being out of the labour market, In fact, they may still be a big part of the jobless problem. One solution to this would be to use "non-employment" instead. This measure includes not just the unemployed but other economically inactive people as well. It would capture those who had simply “dropped out” of the labour force, and might be a better guide to the impact of joblessness than standard rates.
The snag with such a measure is that it is too broad to be useful. The “non-employed" include retired people, housewives, students and others who may not be able to work, or may not wish to. Thus, an increase in “non-employment” could even be a good thing — if, for example, it meant that more people were staying on longer in education.
An alternative approach is to try to supplement the coverage of the standard unemployment rate. Many economists reckon that two groups of people, in particular, should be added. These are "discouraged workers” (those who would like to work, but are not actively seeking a job because they do not think any suitable positions are available), and "involuntary part-time workers" (those who are working fewer hours than they would like, or who can find only a part-time job when they want a full-time one). Once such discouraged workers are added in, the argument goes, the unemployment rate will provide a better measure of any excess supply of labour.
In its latest Employment Outlook, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) examines how useful these supplementary measures are. They certainly change the picture of unemployment substantially. In 1993, there were 4 million discouraged workers in OECD countries and 15 million involuntary part-time ones, compared with 34 million officially unemployed. Adding the two categories to the standard definition of unemployment would increase the total number of unemployed people in OECD countries by over 50%.
In some countries, the difference would be even more dramatic. Total unemployment would more than double in Japan, primarily because of discouraged workers. In Sweden, the number of involuntary part-time workers is higher than the number of officially unemployed. Even America’s unemployment rate would suddenly look much less rosy (see chart). The effect would be to reduce the variation between OECD countries, though the overall ranking would not change much. Spain would still have the highest rates, Japan the lowest.
Cross-border comparisons of these broader indicators are not straightforward, however. Measures of discouraged and involuntary part-time workers are not standardized in the same way as the official unemployment rate. In Germany, for instance, the category of “discouraged worker” does not even exist.
Measurement problems aside, the OECD raises a more serious concern about the whole concept of discouraged workers. The rationale for including them, rather than other categories of non-employed, is that they are supposedly closer to entering the labour market. Were they not discouraged, they could rapidly find a job.
But after looking at the statistical evidence, the OECD pours some cold water on this notion. For example, it points out that most discouraged workers have been jobless for over three years. Evidence from America, Australia and Norway suggests that they may actually find it harder than other non-employed people to get a job. This makes the measure less reliable as an indicator of labour market pressures.
In fact, the OECD reckons that standard unemployment rates are still the best way of gauging pressures in the world’s labour markets. If the goal is to assess the broader social consequences of unemployment, then it seems odd to single out discouraged workers as opposed to some of the other non-employed. What is really needed is a far better understanding of why some people are not employed in the first place.
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Question Focus: Writer explains who is included as involuntary part-time workers versus other non-employed groups.
Correct Answer: NO
Why this is correct: The writer clearly separates students from involuntary part-time workers. Students are listed as part of the non-employed, not as people who want full-time work but can only find part-time jobs.
Passage Reference: The 'non-employed" include retired people, housewives, students and others who may not be able to work, or may not wish to. Thus, an increase in 'non-employment' could even be a good thing - if, for example, it meant that more people were staying on longer in education. Many economists reckon that two groups of people, in particular, should be added. These are "discouraged workers' and "involuntary part-time workers" (those who are working fewer hours than they would like, or who can find only a part-time job when they want a full-time one).
Common Mistake: Choosing YES because both groups are discussed nearby in the text - Context shift trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'students' = Statement: 'college students'
Tips: Always check whether the writer is talking about the same group of people or has switched categories.
Key Vocabulary:
- involuntary = not by choice
- non-employed = not working
Question Focus: Writer explains the relationship between unemployment rates and wage pressure.
Correct Answer: NO
Passage Reference: Unemployment rates are also used to judge the tightness of labour markets: declining rates signal a tight market for labour and hence, eventually, pressure for higher wages. So high official unemployment rates may not necessarily mean that there is little upward pressure on wages.
Why this is correct: The writer says declining rates, not high rates, signal pressure for higher wages. This directly disagrees with the statement.
Common Mistake: Answering YES because wages and unemployment are mentioned together - Reverse meaning trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'declining rates signal a tight market' = Statement: 'high unemployment rates'
Tips: Check carefully which direction the relationship goes. High and low are easy to mix up.
Key Vocabulary:
- declining = going down
- pressure = force pushing
Question Focus: Writer compares unemployment with the broader concept of non-employment.
Correct Answer: YES
Passage Reference: One solution to this would be to use "non-employment" instead. This measure includes not just the unemployed but other economically inactive people as well. The 'non-employed" include retired people, housewives, students and others who may not be able to work, or may not wish to.
Why this is correct: The writer explicitly says non-employment includes not just the unemployed but other economically inactive people as well, which clearly means it includes more people.
Common Mistake: Answering NOT GIVEN because both terms seem similar - Synonym confusion trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'includes not just the unemployed' = Statement: 'includes more people'
Tips: When the writer uses clear comparison words like 'not just', it usually signals a YES answer.
Key Vocabulary:
- inactive = not working
- includes = covers
Question Focus: Writer provides numerical evidence comparing groups.
Correct Answer: YES
Passage Reference: In 1993, there were 4 million discouraged workers in OECD countries and 15 million involuntary part-time ones, compared with 34 million officially unemployed. Adding the two categories to the standard definition of unemployment would increase the total number of unemployed people in OECD countries by over 50%.
Why this is correct: The figures show 19 million discouraged and involuntary part-time workers compared with 34 million officially unemployed, which is clearly more.
Common Mistake: Answering NO because 'over 50%' sounds bigger - Numbers confusion trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: '34 million officially unemployed' = Statement: 'more unemployed people'
Tips: Slow down with numbers. Add them carefully before choosing an answer.
Key Vocabulary:
- officially = according to rules
- compared with = measured against
Question Focus: Statement claims responsibility and blame.
Correct Answer: NOT GIVEN
Passage Reference: Few economic indicators are as politically charged as unemployment rates. Britain's Conservative government is often accused of having changed its definitions of unemployment to reduce the published rate. To many politicians, particularly in continental Europe, persistently high unemployment rates are a constant reminder of the failure of their economic policies.
Why this is correct: The writer mentions accusations about changing definitions, not that the government caused high unemployment. Responsibility for high rates in Britain is never stated.
Common Mistake: Answering NO because you disagree personally - Opinion substitution trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'often accused of having changed its definitions' = Statement: 'is responsible for high unemployment'
Tips: NOT GIVEN means the idea is missing, even if it sounds logical or political.
Key Vocabulary:
- accused = blamed
- definitions = official meanings
Question Focus: Writer evaluates usefulness of non-employment figures.
Correct Answer: NO
Passage Reference: The snag with such a measure is that it is too broad to be useful. In fact, the OECD reckons that standard unemployment rates are still the best way of gauging pressures in the world's labour markets.
Why this is correct: The writer says non-employment is too broad to be useful and that standard unemployment rates are still the best, which directly disagrees with the statement.
Common Mistake: Answering YES because non-employment includes more people - Bigger is better trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'too broad to be useful' = Statement: 'more indicative'
Tips: More information does not always mean better information. Look for evaluation words.
Key Vocabulary:
- snag = problem
- gauging = measuring
Question Focus: Writer distinguishes unemployment from being out of the labour market.
Correct Answer: NO
Passage Reference: Many people, such as those who are no longer actively looking for work, are classified as being out of the labour market, In fact, they may still be a big part of the jobless problem. This measure includes not just the unemployed but other economically inactive people as well.
Why this is correct: The writer shows these are different categories. Some people are out of the labour market but not counted as unemployed.
Common Mistake: Answering YES because both mean 'no job' - Partial truth trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'classified as being out of the labour market' = Statement: 'being unemployed'
Tips: IELTS often tests small category differences. Never assume two terms are the same.
Key Vocabulary:
- classified = officially put into a group
- inactive = not working
Question Focus: Statement claims a relationship between time and eagerness.
Correct Answer: NOT GIVEN
Passage Reference: For example, it points out that most discouraged workers have been jobless for over three years. Evidence from America, Australia and Norway suggests that they may actually find it harder than other non-employed people to get a job.
Why this is correct: The writer discusses how long people have been jobless and difficulty finding a job, but says nothing about being more eager to find work.
Common Mistake: Answering NO because difficulty is confused with motivation - Causation trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'jobless for over three years' = Statement: 'the longer people have been jobless'
Tips: If the passage talks about ability or difficulty, do not assume it means motivation.
Key Vocabulary:
- discouraged = having lost confidence
- eager = very keen
General Tips:
- Yes/No/Not Given tests the WRITER'S VIEW, not just facts. Always ask if the writer agrees, disagrees, or stays silent.
- Statements usually follow the order of the passage. Use the previous answer to find the next one faster.
- NO means the writer clearly disagrees. NOT GIVEN means the idea is missing completely.
- Watch for category changes like unemployed, non-employed, discouraged workers. Mixing them up is a common trap.
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