An individual’s opportunity for control is clearly lessened by unemployment.
Lack of success in job seeking, the inability to influence employers, and increased dependence on social welfare programs all reduce people’s ability to control what happens to them.
The opportunity to use skills is also likely to be reduced during unemployment.
Occupational skills are generally not used during unemployment, although there may be opportunities to use certain skills in domestic activities.
People who become unemployed from jobs that demand a high level of skill are likely to suffer a greater reduction in this feature than people whose previous employment required only limited skill.
Unemployment reduces externally generated goals because fewer demands are placed on the individual.