The term "underemployment" specifically refers to which individuals?

Underemployment specifically refers to individuals who are in a situation where they desire full-time work but can only secure part-time employment. This condition highlights a mismatch between a person's skills, availability, or ambitions and the type of employment they can access.

While it might seem that options regarding giving up job searching, being overqualified, or being temporarily out of work could relate to employment status, they do not capture the essence of underemployment. The term is distinct because it emphasizes not just the lack of full-time work but also the individual’s desire for it, indicating a gap between the current employment situation and the individual's ideal work conditions. This situation can lead to dissatisfaction and unfulfilled potential, which is why it is an important concept in labor economics.