noun (n)

• the state of being unemployed or not having a job(noun.state)

  Example:
  Unemployment is a serious social evil.
  The rate of unemployment is an indicator of the health of an economy.
  

  Antonym:
  employ, employment
  

  source: wordnet30
• Quality or state of being not employed; -- used esp. in economics, of the condition of various social classes when temporarily thrown out of employment, as those engaged for short periods, those whose trade is decaying, and those least competent.(noun)

  source: webster1913