Which of the following best illustrates the concept of structural unemployment?

Structural unemployment occurs when there is a mismatch between the skills that workers possess and the skills needed by employers in the labor market. This can happen due to various factors such as technological advancements, shifts in consumer demand, or changes in the economy that alter the types of jobs available.

The answer highlighting a rise in unemployment due to technological changes effectively captures this idea. For instance, when technology evolves, it may render certain jobs or skills obsolete, leading to a situation where workers who are unable to adapt or retrain may find themselves unemployed. This illustrates structural unemployment because it reflects fundamental changes in the economic landscape that displace workers in specific sectors.

In contrast, the other options describe different forms of unemployment. A decline in seasonal tourism jobs represents seasonal unemployment, which is related to the time of year. An increase in unemployment during a recession illustrates cyclical unemployment, as it is directly linked to economic downturns. Temporary layoffs from a manufacturing plant typically signify frictional unemployment, where workers are between jobs or awaiting a return to their positions following short-term layoffs. This distinction emphasizes that structural unemployment is specifically tied to long-term shifts in the labor market, not short-term fluctuations or seasonal factors.