What types of people are counted as “unemployed?
Persons 16 years of age and over are classified as “unemployed” if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work during the prior 4 weeks and are currently available for work. Looking for work may consist of any of the following specific activities: registering at a public or private employment office, meeting with prospective employers, asking friends and relatives about possible job openings, placing or answering advertisements, writing letters of application and being on a union or professional register. Two groups of people do not have to engage in a specific jobseeking activity to be counted as “unemployed.” They are (1) persons waiting to start a new job within 30 days, and (2) workers waiting to be recalled from layoff. In all other cases, except temporary illness, the individual must be actively engaged in some job search activity.
