Structural unemployment is often caused by what type of changes?

Structural unemployment is primarily linked to technological advancements because such changes can significantly alter the demand for certain skills in the labor market. When new technologies are introduced, they often render certain job roles obsolete or reduce the need for workers with specific skills. For example, the automation of manufacturing processes decreases the demand for jobs that previously required human labor, leading to unemployment for workers whose skills are no longer relevant.

In contrast, seasonal fluctuations typically lead to cyclical or seasonal unemployment, as they are related to the changing demands of specific industries like agriculture or tourism at different times of the year. Health crises may lead to temporary job loss but do not directly result in a permanent mismatch of skills and jobs like structural unemployment does. Political instability can impact job security and the overall economy, but it is not a primary driver of the mismatch between available jobs and worker skills that characterizes structural unemployment. Therefore, technological advancements accurately reflect how changes in the economy can create lasting shifts that lead to structural unemployment.