Employment and unemployment: past paper questions
Real questions on employment and unemployment
The newest 20 of 24 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 2281/22 · May/June 2026 · Q1f[5]
Analyse the relationship between the unemployment rate and the youth unemployment rate.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · May/June 2026 · Q2b[4]
Explain why government measurement of unemployment may be inaccurate.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1f[5]
Analyse the relationship between global GDP per head and global air passenger numbers.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1g[6]
Discuss whether or not a high savings rate is likely to benefit Japan.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1h[6]
Discuss whether or not labour mobility in Japan is likely to increase in the future. Section B Answer any three questions. Each question is introduced by stimulus material. In your answer you may refer to this material and/or to other examples that you have studied.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1g[6]
Discuss whether or not a government should pay private sector firms to give work experience to unemployed young people.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2024 · Q1c[2]
Explain the main type of unemployment experienced by Jordan in 2020.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2024 · Q4d[8]
Discuss whether or not workers who lose their jobs are likely to stay unemployed for a long time.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2023 · Q1h[6]
Discuss whether or not a fall in unemployment in Honduras is likely to cause inflation. Section B Answer any three questions. Each question is introduced by stimulus material. In your answer you may refer to this material and/or to other examples that you have studied.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2023 · Q2b[4]
Explain two reasons why a low inflation rate may increase a country’s economic growth rate.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2023 · Q3b[4]
Explain two types of unemployment.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2023 · Q1d[4]
Explain two ways the pattern of employment has changed in Montenegro in recent years.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2022 · Q3c[6]
Analyse how an increase in productivity can affect unemployment.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2022 · Q3d[8]
Discuss whether or not a decrease in a country’s unemployment rate will reduce poverty.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · May/June 2022 · Q2c[6]
Analyse why a government may have lower unemployment as its main aim.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2021 · Q2b[4]
Explain two advantages of raising the retirement age.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2021 · Q3a[2]
Identify two ways unemployment is measured.
See it on the paper → - 2281/23 · October/November 2021 · Q4c[6]
Analyse how a change in the pattern of employment in a country may change its average wage.
See it on the paper → - 2281/21 · May/June 2020 · Q5d[8]
Discuss whether or not an increase in government spending will reduce unemployment.
See it on the paper → - 2281/22 · October/November 2019 · Q1f[5]
Discuss whether or not an increase in house building will benefit the people who live in the area.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
This was generally well-answered. There was particularly good explanation of how demand-pull inflation could arise from a fall in unemployment in Honduras. Most of those candidates who did well, tended to be stronger on the why the fall in unemployment may cause inflation. An example of a strong response: On the one hand, a fall in unemployment will lead to increased incomes. The increased income...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2281/22 Q1(h) (Cambridge)
As in some previous sessions, several candidates showed a confusion between a low inflation rate and a fall in prices. These candidates tended to run into difficulties. There were, however, some strong answers which examined, most commonly, the possible effects on international competitiveness and the willingness to invest.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2281/22 Q2(b) (Cambridge)
This was extremely well answered. Most candidates showed a strong awareness of different types of unemployment. There were only a small proportion who either confused the different types or who seemed to be unaware of the different types. The most common confusion shown was that cyclical unemployment is caused by a fall in demand for one product rather than a fall in total demand.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2281/22 Q3(b) (Cambridge)
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