# Frictional Unemployment: Definition, Causes, and Quit Rate Explained

![Frictional Unemployment: Short-term unemployment that occurs when workers look for new employment or transition out of old jobs and into new ones.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/RhK9VadAUF-VB9jLXAeaN1F00sw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Frictionalunemployment_final-3fc9b558aba04cc098eea27680d0ea74.png)

*This type of unemployment is a natural event in a dynamic labor market and healthy economy. — Investopedia / Michela Buttignol*

> **Definition**
>
> Frictional unemployment represents a very small percentage of the total unemployment rate because it isn't seen as posing a strong threat to the economy.

## What Is Frictional Unemployment?

Frictional unemployment is a type of voluntary, temporary unemployment that is seen when workers move between jobs or in and out of the workforce.

It stands in contrast to [structural unemployment](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/structuralunemployment.asp), which stems from economic shifts that make it difficult for workers to find work.

Frictional unemployment can be evident in a growing, stable economy and is regarded as a part of [natural unemployment](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/naturalunemployment.asp), the minimum unemployment rate in an economy due to economic forces and the movement of labor.

### Calculation

The frictional unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the workers actively looking for jobs by the total labor force. The workers actively looking for jobs are typically classified into three categories: workers who left their job, people returning to the workforce, and new entrants.

### Key Takeaways

*   Frictional unemployment occurs in a growing, stable economy.
*   Workers moving from job to job and new workers entering the workforce contribute to frictional unemployment.
*   Frictional unemployment is also caused by those deciding to prioritize taking care of their family, returning to school, or finding other purpose in life.
*   Frictional unemployment differs from cyclical unemployment (the natural ebb and flow of an economy) as well as structural unemployment (changes to industries).

## Causes of Frictional Unemployment

### New Entrants to Labor Market

Recent graduates from school and other first-time job seekers may lack the resources or efficiency for finding a company that has an available and suitable job for them. As a result, they don’t take on other work, temporarily holding out for better-paying jobs.

Temporary transitions—such as moving to another town or city—will also add to frictional unemployment, as there is often a gap in time between when workers quit their job and when they find a new ones.

### Search for Greater Meaning

Workers quitting their jobs to look for better pay add to frictional unemployment. In other cases, workers may resign from their job to go back to school or learn a new skill because they believe they need the training to earn more income.

Others might leave the workforce for personal reasons, such as to care for a family member, sickness, retirement, or pregnancy. When the workers return to the workforce to look for a job, they’re counted as part of frictional unemployment.

### Looking for New/Better Jobs

The phenomenon of people quitting their jobs without having other ones to move to is an indication that they believe that they need not fear unemployment because the economy is so robust.

In recent years this phenomenon has become a closely tracked indicator of consumer confidence, called the "Quit Rate." It is also more likely to occur when individuals have had time to build up their savings and thus have resources on hand to handle months of unemployment.

### Unemployment Benefits

[Unemployment benefits](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/unemployment-compensation.asp) paid by the government can sometimes lead to frictional unemployment because the income allows workers to be selective in finding their next job, further adding to their time unemployed.

Frictional unemployment can also occur due to companies abstaining from hiring because they believe that there are not enough qualified individuals available to fill their jobs.

> **Important**
>
> Frictional unemployment can be a positive sign that workers are voluntarily seeking better positions, providing businesses with a wider array of qualified potential employees.

## Impact of Frictional Unemployment

Like all other forms of unemployment, there are downstream implications that impact companies and management. For instance, when frictional unemployment is high, employers may find it difficult to retain talent. Frictional unemployment often means workers may be comparing different offers, waiting for strong opportunities, and requiring investment from their company to be retained.

Frictional unemployment also tends to mean the economy is doing well. Employees are more willing to seek better opportunities when there are more opportunities to browse; this likely occurs when the economy is fully functioning and companies have a larger number of open positions.

Last, frictional unemployment may have implications for how people live their lives. It indicates that people may be inspired to seek out other work opportunities. Similar to how COVID-19 may have put certain work tendencies in perspective for some, frictional unemployment may mean that people are more concerned about a greater purpose and are seeking different/better livelihoods.

## Advantages of Frictional Unemployment

*   Frictional unemployment always exists in an economy with a free-moving labor force and is beneficial because it’s an indicator that individuals are seeking better positions by choice.
*   It also helps businesses because it gives them a wider selection of potentially highly qualified candidates applying for positions.
*   It is short-term and thus does not place much of a strain on government resources.
*   Frictional unemployment is reduced by quickly matching prospective job seekers with job openings. Thanks to the internet, workers can use social media and job-posting websites to search for jobs, which can lead to quicker turnaround times for hiring.

## Frictional Unemployment vs. Other Types of Unemployment

### Cyclical Unemployment

Frictional unemployment is not as worrisome as [cyclical unemployment](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cyclicalunemployment.asp), which is predominant in a recession and caused by businesses laying off employees. In a recession with unemployment rising, frictional unemployment actually tends to decline because workers are usually afraid to leave their jobs to look for a better one.

### Seasonal Unemployment

[Seasonal](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/seasonality.asp) unemployment is the situation where workers are unemployed during certain times of the year as a result of decreasing demand. As seasons change and demand fluctuates, certain jobs return. [Seasonal unemployment](https://www.investopedia.com/where-to-earn-the-most-money-with-summer-2025-side-hustles-11739986) usually doesn't last, as the peak season often means many workers become employed once again.

### Structural Unemployment

[Structural unemployment](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/structuralunemployment.asp) is a more serious form of unemployment. This type of unemployment occurs when there are fundamental structural changes to the economy such as changing industries. For example, consider how environmentally-friendly solutions have replaced less eco-friendly options. As consumer demand changes to green solutions, jobs from less desirable industries begin to disappear.

> **Fast Fact**
>
> As of June 2025, the United States unemployment rate was 4.1%.

## Frictional Unemployment and Economic Stimulus

Frictional unemployment is the only form of unemployment that is [largely unaffected by economic stimulus](https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/050115/what-difference-between-frictional-unemployment-and-structural-unemployment.asp) from the government. For example, during bad economic times, the Federal Reserve Bank might lower interest rates to encourage borrowing. The hope is that the added money will spur spending by consumers and businesses, leading to growth and a reduction in unemployment.

However, added money doesn’t address the causes of frictional unemployment, except perhaps in giving some workers the courage to become unemployed while searching for a new job. Still, as noted above, a challenging economic landscape would probably forestall such a choice.

## What Is the Main Cause of Frictional Unemployment?

Frictional unemployment is mainly caused by voluntary conversions to new jobs within a highly functioning economy. Frictional unemployment is often caused by people willing to step aside from their jobs to seek other jobs with better pay, opportunity, or work-life balance.

## Is Frictional Unemployment a Problem?

Frictional unemployment may be difficult on employers as employees are more willing to voluntarily step aside from their jobs. Companies must be mindful to invest resources in top performers, else those individuals start to look for other opportunities. On the other hand, frictional unemployment may also be difficult on job-seekers. Because more people are voluntarily looking for a job, there may be added competition for new roles.

## What Is the Difference Between Frictional and Cyclical Unemployment?

Cyclical employment is the natural ebb and flow of the economy. As the economy develops, more jobs are created and more workers are employed. As the economy cools, those jobs may be eliminated, causing cyclical unemployment. On the other hand, frictional unemployment occurs when the economy is doing well and workers voluntarily seek out other opportunities to better their lives and careers.

## The Bottom Line

Frictional unemployment is a natural economic occurrence that usually happens when the economy is doing well. Workers decide it's time to seek better opportunities, return to school, care for family, or simply improve their lives outside of work. Frictional unemployment can still be problematic for the economy, though it is not permanent in the way that structural or cyclical unemployment may be.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  Bureau of Labor Statistics. "[The Employment Situation—June 2025](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf)," Page 1.