Definition of jobless

The word "jobless" is a relatively recent addition to the English language, appearing in the late 19th century. It combines the noun "job," which itself evolved from the Middle English word "jop" meaning "a piece of work," with the suffix "-less" indicating lack or absence. The emergence of "jobless" coincided with the rise of industrialization and the growth of large, urban workforces. As more people sought employment in factories and mines, the concept of being "without a job" became increasingly common and thus, a word was needed to describe it.