the word "unemployable" is a modern english formation built upon the established verb "employ," which entered english via french with a sense of engaging someone's services. the latin root implicāre, meaning "to enfold or involve," evolved in french to signify "to use," a meaning retained in english. the negative prefix "un-," of ancient germanic lineage, is systematically attached to adjectives to reverse their sense. the suffix "-able," of latin origin via french, denotes capability or suitability. thus, the literal construction "not capable of being hired" directly and logically yields the modern adjective describing someone lacking the qualities required to secure employment.

Structure: un (not) + employ (use, hire) + able (capable of) un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english un-), meaning "not," used to form negatives. employ: from middle french employer, ultimately from latin implicāre meaning "to involve, engage." in this word, it carries the sense of "to hire or use services." able: a suffix from latin -ābilis, via old french -able, meaning "capable of, fit for."