Crossword Genius

Unemployment slowing initially, then time for employment (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

usage

'employment' is the definition.
('usage' can be a synonym of 'employment')

'unemployment slowing initially then time' is the wordplay.
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
'then' says to put letters next to each other.
'time' becomes 'age' (age is a kind of time**).
The initial letters of 'unemployment slowing' is 'us'.
'us'+'age'='USAGE'

'for' is the link.

(Other definitions for usage that I've seen before include "etiquette" , "Treatment; tradition" , "Acceptable language" , "Employment - practice" , "Style of language" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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