OBJECTIVE To develop a scale for a group of symptoms based on the unemployment syndrome. METHODS The development consisted of four phases: (I) review of literature, (II) concept elicitation, (III) concept selection and item construction, and (IV) content validation. RESULTS Twenty final items that were established as adequate for being included in the instrument. CONCLUSIONS The unemployment syndrome scale could be used to identify the needs and sintomatology of unemployed people and support the identification of the syndrome. CONCLUSIONS The instrument makes it possible to assess the symptomatology specific to the syndrome and to record properly the assessment of the biopsychosocial conditions on the part of the nursing profession for providing quality comprehensive care.