Funemployment

{{Short description|Term for having fun while unemployed}}

Funemployment is a colloquial reference to the portmanteau of having fun while being unemployed, typically while on Unemployment benefits. People on funemployement use the time for self-discovery and self-care.{{cite news |last1=Alavanza |first1=Mary |title=Funemployment: Young Singaporeans say unemployment can be fun - Singapore News |url=https://theindependent.sg/funemployment-young-singaporeans-say-unemployment-can-be-fun/ |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=The Independent Singapore News |date=10 October 2023}} Funemployment is more commonly utilized by younger workers.{{cite magazine |last1=Bruner |first1=Raisa |title=Young People Are Leaving Their Jobs in Record Numbers—And Not Going Back |url=https://time.com/6111245/young-workers-quitting/ |access-date=23 June 2024 |magazine=TIME |date=29 October 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=What Americans think of Gen Z's 'funemployment' attitude {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2023/05/19/smr-gen-z-funemployment-attitude.cnn |access-date=23 June 2024 |date=20 May 2023 |language=en}}

Funemployment has been criticized as limiting people's career prospects.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Owen |title=It's time to clamp down on 'funemployment' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/may/15/clamp-down-funemployment-worklessness-tax-rich |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=15 May 2011}}{{cite news |title=Would Gen Z Rather Be 'Funemployed'?: There is nothing fun about seeing friends move on with their lives while you, standing still, are left behind. |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gen-z-funemployed-work-job-career-adab1d1b |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=May 22, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Tait |first1=Amelia |title=Why the young and jobless are rebranding as funemployed |url=https://theface.com/life/funemployed-funemployment-youth-unemployment |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=The Face |date=August 4, 2021 |language=en-gb}} Long-term funemployment may negatively impact mental health.{{cite news |title=Not So 'Funemployed': How Unemployment Can Take A Toll On Your Mental Health |url=https://www.medicaldaily.com/not-so-funemployed-how-unemployment-can-take-toll-your-mental-health-353856 |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=Medical Daily |date=22 September 2015}}

Funemployment came to prominence following the COVID-19 pandemic and as a response to hustle culture and work-life balance.{{cite news |last1=Welch |first1=Suzy |title=For Gen Z, Unemployment Can Be a Blast |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-gen-z-unemployment-can-be-a-blast-employment-career-labor-generation-corporate-college-university-e24810ce?mod=article_inline |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=May 17, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Yoshino |first1=Kimi |title=For the 'funemployed,' unemployment is welcome |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-funemployment4-2009jun04-story.html |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=4 June 2009}}