Which of the following would the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics define as a discouraged worker?
a) Robert, a retired teacher, who works full time as a greeter at a discount store
b) Quinton, who has a doctorate in chemistry, but works full time as a taxi driver
c) Susan, who has been unemployed for the past three years and is looking for a part-time job
d) Mary, who was laid off last year and who was looking for a full-time job until last month

d) Mary, who was laid off last year and who was looking for a full-time job until last month

Explanation:

In the United States, a discouraged worker is defined as a person not in the labor force who wants and is available for a job and who has looked for work sometime in the past 12 months (or since the end of his or her last job if a job was held within the past 12 months), but who is not currently looking because of real or perceived poor employment prospects.

there's 11 people for the 1st position. then, no matter who gets it, there's only 10 left for the second, and then 9 left for the third. 11 x 10 x 9 = 990.   the answer is there are 990 different ways the positions can be filled by these applicants