Final answer:
The computer programmer's job loss due to company outsourcing is an example of structural unemployment, which arises from a mismatch between job seekers' skills and market needs, including factors like technological changes or geographic distribution of jobs. The correct option for the skilled computer programmer's situation is (a) Structural unemployment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to the type of unemployment experienced by a computer programmer who loses his job due to the company's decision to move its operations overseas, which leads to a decline in demand for his specific skill set in the local job market. This situation fits the description of structural unemployment. It occurs when there is a mismatch between the skills of the job seekers and the needs of the labor market. Such a mismatch can be geographic, technological, or the result of any sudden change in the types of jobs available versus the types of jobs people are trained for.
Using the definitions provided above, the different scenarios can be classified as follows:
• a. Landscapers laid off due to a recession are an example of cyclical unemployment, as it's driven by economic downturns.
• b. Coal miners laid off due to EPA regulations would experience structural unemployment as this is caused by changes in regulations that affect the labor market.
• c. A financial analyst quitting his job to find similar work elsewhere reflects frictional unemployment, which includes the time period where people are transitioning between jobs.
• d. Printers laid off due to a decrease in demand for printed materials as companies move online are also experiencing structural unemployment.
• e. Factory workers unemployed due to the relocation of plants overseas are another example of structural unemployment.
The correct option for the skilled computer programmer's situation is (a) Structural unemployment.