This paper, based on a qualitative analysis of adult education literature, presents a comparison of approaches to unemployment-related problems in Poland and the US. Unemployment serves here as a lens through which attitudes towards various areas connected with adult education can be viewed. The conclusions drawn from the research can be both the source of reflection for adult educators in different socio-cultural contexts as well as the starting point for further research related to the topics explored in the text. [For the complete Volume 14, Number 1 proceedings, see ED568088.]