Funployment

Unemployment & shortened work hours put focus on enjoyment

Implications - In 2009, consumers began to make light of stark economic circumstances. In nearly every industry, people are doing things they would not have been able to while employed full-time. They are seizing travel opportunities, spending quality time with family -- and some are even enjoying poking fun at unemployment.

Trend Themes

  1. Embracing Job Loss — The trend of embracing job loss by making light of the situation and finding new opportunities to enjoy life.
  2. Supportive Services for the Unemployed — The trend of providing discounted services, education opportunities, and novelty items to those who have lost their jobs.
  3. Recession-era Entertainment — The trend of creating entertainment that speaks to the challenges and opportunities of living through a recession.

Industry Implications

  1. Education — Businesses in the education industry can consider offering discounted tuition and other support services for those who have lost their jobs.
  2. Retail — Retail businesses can explore opportunities for creating novelty items that poke fun at difficult economic situations, while still offering a sense of support and humor.
  3. Entertainment — The entertainment industry can consider creating content that speaks to the challenges and opportunities of living through a recession, while still providing a sense of inspiration and hope.
2.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
8 Featured, 45 Examples:
694,981 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Mar 09 — Oct 09
Trending:
Mild
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Funemployment Fashion
Funemployment Fashion
Irina Blok's Buttons and Shirts Make Fun of Joblessness
Newly unemployed graphic designer Irina Blok decided it was time to laugh about our troubles and in doing so, birthed the idea for her ‘Funemployment’ Collection. There is an old saying that says, “If… MORE
Lay Off Greetings
Lay Off Greetings
RIP Job Cards Offer Condolences For Those Getting Sacked
Losing your job sucks anytime, so with the credit crunch upon us, how do you cheer up friends who are rapidly getting laid off work? You buy them a lovely sympathy card expressing your most sincere condolences… MORE
Paid Tourists
Paid Tourists
$25,000 Job For "67 Days of Smiles" in Orlando up for Grabs
The city of Orlando, Florida is offering up what sounds like a pretty sweet gig: get paid $25,000 to live in an Orlando condo and spend your time seeing local attractions with “67 Days of Smiles.” The… MORE
Chic Recession Editorials
Chic Recession Editorials
Tokion Magazine Features Stylish Unemployed Men
Tokion’s fall editorial is a grim reality check as it features male models, unemployed and picketing against their layoffs. The style of the editorial greatly resembles that of the Great Depression with… MORE
Unemployment Olympics
Unemployment Olympics
Jobless Gather to Blow off Steam in Laid Off Games in NYC
The events at the “Unemployment Olympics" in New York City were definitely named in a way the onlookers and participants could relate to, as laid off workers from the area got together for some good natured… MORE
Joking About Joblessness
Joking About Joblessness
“Layoff: The Game” Lets You Pick Workers to Be Axed
As the saying goes, if life hands you layoffs, play “Layoff: The Game.” I definitely just made up that maxim, but TiltFactor’s online game has already gone viral. According to GamePolitics, it’s meant… MORE
play_circle_filledPositive Job Loss Flicks
Positive Job Loss Flicks
‘Lemonade' Celebrates the Opportunity of the Recession
If you’re someone who got laid off during the height of the recession, it’s easy to be angry, but when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. Discussing the job loss of 70,000 advertising and… MORE
University Discounts for Jobless Alums
University Discounts for Jobless Alums
St. John's Gives 50% Off Tuition for Laid-Off Grads
Alumni of St. John's University in New York who have lost their jobs in the last six months have something to smile about: A 50% discount on grad school tuition at their alma mater. The discount, which… MORE

Related Examples

Party Fashion Editorials
Party Fashion Editorials
Model Denisa Dvorakova Parties in "The Club" for Flair
Inked Editorials
Inked Editorials
Pieter Henket Photographs "Tattooed Love Boys" for BlackBook
Afro Editorials
Afro Editorials
Karlie Kloss Wears Super-Sized Hair for September Vogue
Withdrawal Editorials
Withdrawal Editorials
Balmain Homme Absolut Man Looks Like He's Facing a Nic Fit
Enigmatic Editorials
Enigmatic Editorials
'Mirage' by Exterface Keeps You Wondering
Baroque Art Editorials
Baroque Art Editorials
Channeling Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio for Dazed and Confused
Fire Red Editorials
Fire Red Editorials
Lindsay Wixon Rocks Strong-Colored Locks for Blend Magazine
'O Face' Editorials
'O Face' Editorials
Giulio Sciorio's 'Faces of Ecstasy' Captures the Heat of the Moment
Recession-Inspired Entertainment
Recession-Inspired Entertainment
Hollywood's Movies & TV Shows Reflect Today's Hard Times
Drab Recession Chic
Drab Recession Chic
SENSE Magazine Editorial Features Gloomy Menswear for Fall 2009
Robot Layoffs
Robot Layoffs
In Japan, the Recession Also Extends to Human Replacements
Recession-Conscious Comics
Recession-Conscious Comics
Chris Sims Takes a Look at the Most Depressing Animated Creations
Celebrity Recession Sales
Celebrity Recession Sales
Sienna Miller Tries to Sell Mansion Below Purchase Price
Recession-Proof Cars?
Recession-Proof Cars?
Lexus HS250 Hybrid Projected to Sell 25,000 Units in First Year
play_circle_filledRecession-Friendly Rooming
Recession-Friendly Rooming
The Unit3 Housing Concept Changes Based on Needs
Recession Refreshments
Recession Refreshments
$1 Fountain Drinks This Summer at McDonald's
False Hope Recession Cures
False Hope Recession Cures
Powerball Lottery has Dangerous $195 Million Jackpot Lure
play_circle_filledRecession-Affected Art
Recession-Affected Art
Artists Dish On How the Economy Affects Their Work
Free Trips for Pregnancy
Free Trips for Pregnancy
TUICruises Offers Refund for Women Who Get Knocked up on Board
25 Innovations for Job-Seekers
25 Innovations for Job-Seekers
Clever Ideas to Reduce the Unemployment Rate
$10,000/Month Dream Jobs
$10,000/Month Dream Jobs
Murphy-Goode's ‘Really Goode Job' for Web-Savvy Winos
Pop-Up Business Cards
Pop-Up Business Cards
Clifton Alexander's 3D Creation Features a Pop-Up Self-Portrait
One-Step Greeting Cards
One-Step Greeting Cards
All-In-One Card Stamp Saves Time, Money and Hassle
Recession-Era Celebrations
Recession-Era Celebrations
The Unemployment Olympics Will Take Over Tompkins Square Park
Interactive Fitness Cards
Interactive Fitness Cards
'Yoga One' Business Cards Turn Your Fingers into Thighs
Recruiting Wage-Free Workers
Recruiting Wage-Free Workers
LightFair Seeks Unpaid Employees With Promise of Gratis Entry
play_circle_filledDream-Making Credit Cards
Dream-Making Credit Cards
VISA GO Ads Want You To GO After Anything You Want
Creative Letterpress Cards
Creative Letterpress Cards
Eco-Friendly Greetings From Fugu Fugu Press Show You Care
Crowdsourced Careers
Crowdsourced Careers
Chen Xiao Performs Random Real-Life Tasks for Chinese Internet Users
Psychological Career Commercials
Psychological Career Commercials
CareerBuilder Ad Shows Top Reasons to Change Jobs
Gene-Based Job Recruitment
Gene-Based Job Recruitment
Sifting Through Genetic Resumes for the Best Employees
24 Fun Things Layoffs Give People Time to Do
24 Fun Things Layoffs Give People Time to Do
Comparative Valentine's Day Cards
Comparative Valentine's Day Cards
Personalized ‘I Love You More Than' Cards
play_circle_filledUltra Luxurious Job Offers
Ultra Luxurious Job Offers
Tourism Queensland Offers 'Best Job in the World'
Recession-Proof Jobs
Recession-Proof Jobs
Careers Promising Prosperity and Stability in 2009
Crowdsourced Corporate Layoffs
Crowdsourced Corporate Layoffs
Creative Agency Launches Internet Firing Squad
Credit Crunch Food Certificates
Credit Crunch Food Certificates
Mega Restaurant Discounts
Mega Terminations
Mega Terminations
DHL Shuts US Domestic Services, Cuts 9500 Jobs
Casino Cutbacks
Casino Cutbacks
Borgata and Sands Announce Layoffs
Cool Careers For Dummies: Trend Hunter Listed
Cool Careers For Dummies: Trend Hunter Listed
Odd Jobs Driven by Diversifying Economy
Odd Jobs Driven by Diversifying Economy
10 Micro Niche Jobs
35 College and University Trends
35 College and University Trends
Testing 52 Jobs in a Year
Testing 52 Jobs in a Year
Sean Aiken's One Week Job
Free Online University
Free Online University
Wikipedia Introduces Wikiversity
Free University Education
Free University Education
Yale Joins MIT, Berkeley and Stanford With Free Courses Online