Collocations Unemployment

Unemployment

Losing your job

lose your job

(British English) become/​be made redundant

be offered/​take voluntary redundancy/​early retirement

face/​be threatened with dismissal/(British English) the sack/(British English) compulsory redundancy

dismiss/​fire/ (especially British English) sack an employee/​a worker/​a manager

lay off staff/​workers/​employees

(Australian English, New Zealand English, South African English) retrench workers

cut/​reduce/​downsize/​slash the workforce

(British English) make staff/​workers/​employees redundant

Being unemployed

be unemployed/​out of work/​out of a job

seek/​look for work/​employment

be on/​collect/​draw/​get/​receive (both British English) unemployment benefit/​jobseeker’s allowance

be/​go/​live/​sign (British English, informal) on the dole

claim/​draw/​get (British English, informal) the dole

be on/​qualify for (North American English) unemployment (compensation)

be/​go/​live/​depend (North American English) on welfare

collect/​receive (North American English) welfare

combat/​tackle/​cut/​reduce unemployment