noun
unemployment
B1
Arbeitslosigkeit: feminine noun meaning 'unemployment'. Usually used as an uncountable abstract noun describing lack of employment. Article: die Arbeitslosigkeit; plural rarely used (Arbeitslosigkeiten). Often appears with verbs like 'leiden an Arbeitslosigkeit' (to suffer from unemployment). Common in economic and policy discussions.
Examples
Die Regierung reduzierte die Arbeitslosigkeit, weil ein großes Förderprogramm gestartet wurde.
The government reduced unemployment because a large support program was launched.
Die Regierung versucht, die Arbeitslosigkeit zu senken.
The government is trying to reduce unemployment.
Seit der Krise ist die Arbeitslosigkeit in der Region deutlich gestiegen.
Unemployment in the region has risen sharply since the crisis.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine an office with all desks empty and a big sign reading 'Closed' — no jobs.
Think 'work-less' to remember it means being without work.
die — most nouns ending in -keit are feminine; link '-keit' to 'die'.
Notes
Arbeitslosigkeit is often used in sociopolitical contexts and typically treated as an uncountable noun; plural (Arbeitslosigkeiten) is rare and used when talking about different instances or types of unemployment.