The correct answer is: sectoral shifts are always happening. Gwen is an unpaid worker in her family’s restaurant. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Gwen as
a. a marginally attached worker.
b. unemployed and in the labor force.
c. a discouraged worker.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is: b. unemployed and in the labor force.
Explanation:
Gwen works unpaid in her family’s restaurant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), unpaid workers in a family business for at least 15 hours a week are considered employed. However, if Gwen is not actively working those hours or is not getting paid and is actively looking for paid work, she would be considered unemployed but still part of the labor force.
The BLS defines the labor force as all people aged 16 and older who are either employed or unemployed but actively seeking work. Therefore:
- If Gwen works 15 or more unpaid hours in a family business, she is employed.
- If Gwen does not meet that standard but is actively seeking paid employment, she is unemployed and in the labor force.
In the context of the question, Gwen is counted as unemployed and in the labor force if she is not doing at least 15 hours of unpaid work and is seeking a job. She is not a marginally attached worker (who is not working and has looked for work in the past year but not actively in the last four weeks) nor a discouraged worker (someone who has stopped looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them).
Additionally, the question’s beginning statement about “sectoral shifts are always happening” refers to the idea that changes in the economy (such as shifts from manufacturing jobs to service jobs) are a constant phenomenon, influencing job availability. These shifts can create temporary unemployment, but they are unrelated to Gwen’s classification.
Thus, the best choice based on BLS definitions and Gwen’s situation is:
b. unemployed and in the labor force.