Cambridge International (CAIE) · 4 The macroeconomy (AS) · 4.5 Unemployment

Cambridge International (CAIE) Economics past paper questions: Unemployment

Every Cambridge International (CAIE) question on Unemployment from 2023 to 2025: 1 essay, 5 data response questions and 8 multiple choice questions. It covers 6.3 Current account of the balance of payments, 4.1 National income statistics, 4.6 Price stability and 3.2 Methods and effects of government intervention in markets. Each question links to its paper, mark scheme and examiner report.

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Subtopics6.3 Current account of the balance of payments 14.1 National income statistics 14.6 Price stability 13.2 Methods and effects of government intervention in markets 1

Essay questions on unemployment

AS Paper 2, November 2024, Q4(a)OptionalExplain8 marks

Explain two methods of measuring unemployment and consider the extent of the possible difficulties in obtaining an accurate measurement of unemployment.

Question paper p.4 Mark scheme p.18 Open in the tool

Data response questions on unemployment

AS Paper 2, June 2025, Q1(a)(i)Identify1 mark

Case study: Can South Africa escape from its economic difficulties?

Identify the overall change in the unemployment rate in South Africa between January 2020 and October 2022.

Question paper p.3 Mark scheme p.9 Open in the tool

AS Paper 2, June 2025, Q1(a)(ii)Compare1 mark

Case study: Can South Africa escape from its economic difficulties?

Compare the trend in the unemployment rate in South Africa between January 2020 and January 2022 with that between January 2022 and October 2022.

Question paper p.3 Mark scheme p.9 Open in the tool

AS Paper 2, June 2025, Q1(b)Identify2 marks

Case study: Can South Africa escape from its economic difficulties?

Identify one possible impact on firms in South Africa and one possible impact on the government of South Africa of such a high rate of unemployment.

Question paper p.3 Mark scheme p.9 Open in the tool

AS Paper 2, March 2024, Q1(d)Assess6 marks

Case study: Artificial Intelligence

Assess the possible impact on unemployment in Japan as a result of the increased investment in AI.

Question paper p.3 Mark scheme p.8 Open in the tool

AS Paper 2, November 2023, Q1(d)Explain6 marks

Case study: Electric cars create challenges for oil producers

Explain whether unemployment caused by the diversification of petrostates away from oil and gas production is likely to be cyclical or structural and consider which type of unemployment is likely to be more damaging to these economies.

Question paper p.3 Mark scheme p.9 Examiner report p.10 Open in the tool

Multiple choice questions

AS Paper 1, November 2025, Q23
A country has a target rate of inflation of 2.5% and has recently experienced the actual rate rising to 6%, with unemployment falling to very low levels. Which policy option is most likely to be implemented?
AS Paper 1, June 2025, Q19
What is most likely to cause an unemployed worker to be classified as frictionally unemployed?
AS Paper 1, March 2025, Q17
In country S, frictional unemployment has decreased, but in country T, structural unemployment has increased. What would be possible explanations for these changes?
AS Paper 1, November 2024, Q16
An economy experiences rising unemployment due to incomes falling as a result of a virus pandemic. How would this unemployment be classified?
AS Paper 1, November 2024, Q23
The number of people employed in a country and the level of unemployment both decrease. What could explain this?
AS Paper 1, March 2024, Q18
To calculate the unemployment rate, the number unemployed is related to
AS Paper 1, March 2024, Q21
An economy has an unemployment rate of 8%, an increase of 2% from the previous year. At the same time, the current account deficit rose from 3% of GDP to 4% of GDP. What would be most likely to reduce both unemployment and the current…
AS Paper 1, June 2023, Q22
The table shows the types of unemployment and their possible solutions. Which combination is not correct?

Question text is quoted from the question papers, © Cambridge University Press & Assessment (UCLES), for students’ private study. Open the official papers and mark schemes from the links on each question. Examiner insights are written with AI assistance and moderated by Finn.

Essay questions on unemployment

Data response questions on unemployment

Multiple choice questions

More Cambridge International (CAIE) topics: 4 The macroeconomy (AS)