Final answer:
Esmeralda, who is on a three-month leave from work to travel, is still considered employed and part of the labor force, as she has a job to return to and is not actively seeking employment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Esmeralda is counted as: C) Employed and in the labor force.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to be classified as unemployed, a person must be without a job, currently available to work, and actively looking for work in the previous four weeks. In Esmeralda's case, she is taking a leave from work, which means she already has a job and intends to return after her travel. She is, therefore, not actively looking for work because she is simply on a break from her existing employment. This would categorize her as employed and thus part of the labor force. Those who do not have a job and are not actively looking due to retirement, caring responsibilities, or taking a break before a new job, or are discouraged workers who have stopped looking, are considered out of the labor force.
Esmeralda is taking a three-month leave from work to travel across Europe. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, she would be considered employed and in the labor force. This is because she currently has a job but is temporarily not working due to her planned travel. During her travel, she remains connected to the labor force and will resume her job upon returning.