Which type of unemployment occurs when a worker is between jobs by choice?

• A. Structural
• B. Voluntary (choice)
• C. Frictional
• D. Cyclical

Answer: (B)

Voluntary unemployment arises when a person chooses not to take a job for a period, often while searching for a more suitable opportunity or negotiating terms. If someone is between jobs by choice, they are not out of work because there aren’t jobs available; they could work but prefer to wait for a better fit. That deliberate, short-term choice to remain unemployed defines voluntary unemployment. It isn’t about skills mismatches (structural) or a lack of jobs due to a downturn (cyclical); it’s about the individual’s decision to stay out of work while seeking a preferred position.