Final answer:
Displaced workers are those who are unemployed because their jobs have disappeared, often due to economic changes or technological advancements. Types of unemployment include cyclical, due to economic downturns, and structural, due to industry shifts or relocation. Discouraged workers have ceased job searching due to a perceived lack of suitable opportunities. The correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
Workers who are unemployed because their jobs have disappeared are referred to as displaced workers. This typically occurs when changes in the economy, such as a recession, technological advancements, or shifts in consumer demand, lead to a decrease in the need for certain jobs or skills. Displaced workers may find it challenging to find new employment without significant retraining, particularly if their skills are highly specialized or outdated due to industry shifts.
For example, during a recession, landscapers may be laid off due to a drop in new housing construction, and this would be an instance of cyclical unemployment. Factory workers laid off as plants shut down and relocate, resulting in job loss due to international competition, are experiencing structural unemployment.
In contrast, discouraged workers are those who have stopped looking for employment because they believe there are no suitable positions available. These workers are not counted as part of the labor force and can skew unemployment statistics by underreporting the actual level of joblessness in an economy.