Definition of Full Employment

Question

Definition of “Full Employment”?

Answer 1

1. Full employment does not mean zero unemployment.

2. The full employment unemployment rate is equal to the total frictional and structural unemployment.

3. The full employment rate of unemployment is also referred to as the natural rate of unemployment.

4. The natural rate is achieved when labor markets are in balance; the number of job seekers equals the number of job vacancies.  At this point the economy’s potential output is being achieved.

5. The natural rate of unemployment is not fixed but depends on the demographic makeup of the labor force and the laws and customs of the nations.

6. The recent drop in the natural rate of 6% to 5.5% has occurred mainly because of the aging of the work force and increased competition in product and labor markets.