In recession, group of countries protects energy employment (5)
I believe the answer is:
usage
'employment' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'in recession group of countries protects energy' is the wordplay.
'in recession' says the letters should be written in reverse (letters recede or go back).
'group of countries' becomes 'EU'.
'protects' indicates putting letters inside (outer letters protect inside letters).
'energy' becomes 'gas' (I've seen this in another clue).
'eu' enclosing 'gas' is 'egasu'.
'egasu' written backwards gives 'USAGE'.
(Other definitions for usage that I've seen before include "Convention" , "Accepted or habitual practice" , "phraseology" , "management" , "Custom - treatment" .)