Essay About Unemployment Problems

Essay About Unemployment Problems

One of the core principles of the National Health Service (NHS) states that comprehensive services must be available to all irrespective of their sex, religion or financial status. Although this value is widely practiced across the UK, certain disadvantaged groups in the society are not receiving the optimum level of healthcare. In this essay, problems facing unemployed individuals in the UK is discussed.

Studies have shown that the mortality rate in all age groups tended to be about two to three times higher among the unemployed. The social consequences of unemployment often become the root from which health issues arise. The severity of the matter is apparent in the positive correlation found between unemployment and mortality due to cardiovascular disease. This can be explained as studies have found that destructive behavior is one of the mental repercussions of unemployment which in itself includes consuming large amounts of alcohol, excessive smoking, high consumption of dietary fat and the lack of physical activity. These triggers are perhaps why unemployment can lead to numerous mental health consequences such as depression, anxiety, anger management issues, lack of self- esteem, and demotivation. This can induce pronounced changes in human immune systems as demonstrated by the significantly lower NKCC levels in the unemployed when compared with a matched employed sample, proposed to be as a result of chronic stress. Furthermore, it becomes increasingly difficult to afford healthy food with the loss of income that unemployment brings, further leading to a weaker immune system or even diabetes.

Due to the mental consequences of unemployment, the barriers to care become challenging to overcome. Due to financial struggles, Individuals might not be able to afford commuting costs to hospital appointments, which can result in severe health consequences. Moreover, studies have shown that unemployment is one of the significant reasons behind homelessness, which itself causes problems like not having a fixed home address for GP and hospital letters, and lack of awareness about the available services. Low mental health literacy, which is understanding how to gain and maintain positive mental health, stigma, and discrimination in the society are among the other barriers to care. These factors have a deleterious effect on the individual’s self-confidence and so demotivate them to take any positive steps. Discrimination due to gender, religion, and sex also contribute to these barriers. This is evident as the unemployment rate amongst the Muslim population in the UK is almost double the figure for the general. Furthermore, there is geographical inequality in terms of job availability in the UK, with the North East having the highest rate of unemployment.

A holistic approach using a biopsychosocial model of health could be used by the government, NHS, and Public Health England to overcome these barriers. The government can reduce unemployment by placing more emphasis on policies such as apprenticeship schemes, which provides the unemployed with the training required to gain new skills to find a job while getting paid. Anti-stigma campaigns and raising awareness about mental health services can be used to tackle both social and mental aspect of the unemployment issues. This was evident in placement at my mental health clinic when an unemployed patient talked about the positive impact of the Minds Matter services on his wellbeing. Additionally, a training program can be designed for healthcare professionals on how to provide the best healthcare to specific disadvantaged groups in society.

Unemployment as a Social Problem in Pakistan

Unemployment as a Social Problem in Pakistan

Social issues are a problem that influences many individuals within a society. Social issues are common problems that are being faced in Pakistan very often, because social issues influence many peoples to strive to solve many issues. Pakistan is a developing country which is facing a lot of social problems now a day, which includes the economics problems, unemployment, environmental problems, climate change, inequality, poverty and many more. But unemployment is one of the biggest social problems in Pakistan as well as it has become the biggest challenge of Pakistan now a days. Unemployment basically defines as “the condition of having no job or being out of work or proportion of people which are able to work actively searching jobs but they are unable to find it”. Unemployment brings a large number of socio-economic problems in many unusual ways. I think unemployment is common word now days, because in spite of jobs people are job less. But if we say unemployment is found not only in Pakistan but everywhere around the globe it would not be wrong, as it as became universal problem. But now it is not temporary. Whereas, in Pakistan this problem is more dreadful than in western countries.

As unemployment occurs when a person is regularly in search of job or is unable to find job for living. It is a very bitter reality that unemployment has become one major problem of Pakistan. But the fact is that it is not only growing rapidly in rural areas but also has increased in urban areas of Pakistan. Many universities of Pakistan (whether rural or urban) are producing a great number of graduates every year but all the degree holder graduates are struggling here and there in search of job but that are hopeless to find one. Moreover, every student is in search of jobs that is true and normal, the students apply everywhere were they have their approach but during the interview the second question they always ask the students is that ‘do you have any experience?’, of course the student is a fresh degree holder and has no experience so they reject the new lot every year in sack of experience. But it is not all, if someone has experience of that particular job they sometimes reject because of less GPA. The thing is that most of the companies and organizations don’t care of the skills they have, which is why unemployment is increasing by leap and bounds every year. Due to this fact Government is playing negligible role in providing jobs to fresh ones because nepotism is very high in Pakistan that is destroying the future of students that deserves the job. The students that are not in favor or in reference of nepotism lack in getting jobs which is an acute side of mirror. Resources are limited as by MARK X we have divided ourselves into two communities (elite and poor), and of course there are two types of students, as well, rich and poor students instead of worthy and non-worthy, if we research, we will definitely find out that the rich ones get the superiority, they can easily get job because of their power, nepotism, connections. But the reality is always dreadful, poor or lower-class people always suffer a lot. And because of that people who are suffering from unemployment lose hope, confidence, and self-esteem. But this is also true that we are the people who have built these alleging piteous classes which are not built by God. Moreover, we have to fixed it, but no one cares because they are living happily why should they even care, this is the point that is causing unemployment. Government is doing nothing for the people with no jobs, that is what we always think when we hear that our nearby person has no job but that’s not all the fault of government alone, whereas if we think rationally there are not enough available resource, private sector is not giving equal job opportunities to the people. If we talk about the unemployment present in rural areas, it is obvious that both male and females have low rate of education whether they good in skills but still skills are not considered in Pakistan. So, they have vey less chance of getting jobs and because of that they cannot earn better for their living. Furthermore, as they are not getting job for their better living, but they have to earn to meet up the expenses then for that they start earning money in wrong way, they start smuggling, street crimes, hacking, begging. So, unemployment can have several side effects on people. Whereas in urban areas people face less unemployment than that of rural, but it is now increases rapidly in urban areas due to the fact of negligence of government, limited resources, nepotism.

It is concluded that unemployment is the leading problem of Pakistan nowadays. Which is growing rapidly every day. Moreover, I have negative point of view of unemployment in Pakistan that is more towards the unstructured society rather than the structure society. There are many causes of unemployment but if we start thinking of the solution more frequently this problem can and will be removed in the future. Thousands of graduates are unemployed. Thousands of workers are unable to earn their basic needs so if the government and private sectors collaborates to produce more job opportunities then unemployment can be reduced. Students who are fresh degree holders should be given chance to get experience, every person (student) whether rich or poor should be consider and treated equals. By encouraging small, medium and multinational companies to invest in Pakistan that can also increase job opportunities for students and labors and it will reduce unemployment. Last but not the least, nepotism is main cause of unemployment after government negligence which should be stopped strictly because it is not only destroying the culture, moral ethics but it is also destroying the life of people here and life after that.

Essay on the Effects of Unemployment

Essay on the Effects of Unemployment

Unemployment is the state of being unemployed or unemployed, or the proportion of people who are able to work, are actively looking for work, but are unable to find one. Unemployment is a huge problem in today’s world.

One of the effects of unemployment among graduates is make a difficult life for unemployed. This effect is focusing on individuals. They were unable to earn money to meet financial obligations. People that had made loan from bank have to settle down the loan bank. Graduated also have to pay off the study loan too. What a fortune when you went further study to get a better job but you have to make a study loan and in future you do not get your dream work but you have to pay the loan? It is nothing. In the certain cases, some people unable to overcome this problem. Then, it will generating the homeless crisis. Unemployment increases susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, somatization, anxiety disorders, depression, and suicide. In addition, unemployed people have higher rates of medication use, poor diet, physician visits, tobacco smoking, alcoholic beverage consumption, drug use, and lower rates of exercise. We had heard that many of the unemployed died of these terrible issues.

Second effect is no income and lead to poverty. The unemployment issue may lead to high level of poverty cause no income gain by the unemployed. It causes the rising of the number of family facing poverty. The unemployed don’t have enough money to accommodate their own live and also their family. Therefore, they also have to support their children or others family members on education too. Poverty will lead many causes, such as crimes, deadness, mental illness and others. People would be pressure of the surrounding more over if other got a job but they did not. They will ashamed of themselves cause can’t provide good things for their family. The further effect, the family relationship will be affected.

Lastly, many crimes are committed by individuals who are unemployed living poverty. The person that having difficult live to survive on unemployed living might take action involves in many crimes. Hence, it threatened our community safety. Some of the unemployed have no ideas on how to overcome their finance problem and it leads them to involve in this immoral activity. It was too sadness when they took this action to get ‘income’. People have to think twice before do anything especially involving this activity. Somehow unemployed do these crimes because they have to support their lives. Think wisely, if they have enough money, they would not do this activity. But unemployed be a not a good role model for teen nowadays It was not surprisingly, if we look at the rate of the statistic of our country crimes. Most of the unemployed involve in snatch theft and robber. Among of them were teenagers too. It had been for sure the teenagers emulate the unemployed that involve at these cases too. This unemployed issue also leads the community to commit the crime.

Actually, the problem of unemployment is not a new issue. People should think positive and try to elevate their own skills. The world of work often changes according to technology and those who often improve their skills can only sit at the same place throughout their lives. In conclusion, this unemployment problem would remain unchanged and can cause instability of the country economy if the country fails to control it well. Together with the private sector, the government needs to realize the importance of working together to revive the country’s economy in the near future. Without cooperation, the economic problems will continue to cause a lot of problems for the people. Hence, people will have difficulties to find good employment opportunities especially for young people among fresh graduates from universities or school.

Essay on Structural Unemployment and Its Solutions

Essay on Structural Unemployment and Its Solutions

The article is about the overall falling rate of unemployment in the United States which dropped to 3.9% or 6.3 million people. This means that 3.9% of Americans are actively looking for a job, but are unable to find work. Despite the United States’ unemployment rate falling to the lowest since 2000, the retail sector has not experienced much growth with only 1,800 out of the 164,000 jobs added. This creates socioeconomic costs: the loss of income which leads to declining living standards and the loss of national output which leads to an increase in spare capacity.

Over the past 15 years, the percentage change in retail jobs has seen a 334% growth in e-commerce, no change in the retail industry, and a 25% drop in department stores. Although online shopping accounts for only 8.4% of all retail sales in the United States, it has had an outsize effect on the retail workforce. The number of e-commerce and warehousing jobs has leapt by 400,000 whereas the number of traditional retail jobs has declined by 140,000. The replacement of human capital with technology has resulted in structural unemployment – people are out of jobs because the demand for their skills is in decline. Though the rise of e-commerce has created new jobs, they have not absorbed the job losses at traditional retailers.

According to the article, employment in clothing and accessories stores dropped by 5,300. The retail firm’s demand falls then the firm decrease its output. Employers lay off workers with skills no longer in use, hence why the demand for labor decreases from D1 to D2. The previous equilibrium A shifts to the new equilibrium B. Wages do not fall, and there is an unemployment of amount Q1 to Q2. There is a rural/urban split in terms of retail jobs in America. There has been a lag of retail job growth in urban counties of large metropolitan areas, and an annual decline of 1.1% in rural counties and small metros. Meanwhile, e-commerce and warehousing jobs have boomed in both rural and urban areas. In low density suburbs, e-commerce employment surged 32% each year, and rose by 12% in high density suburbs. In sum, the rise of Amazon and other online sellers and the decline of brick-and-mortar retail is not spread evenly across the country.

Structural unemployment requires reshaping of the labor market to improve flexibility. This is a long-term supply-side solution where the LRAS shifts to the right or the production possibility curve moves outwards. This involves training the workforce to be more occupationally flexible so traditional retail workers can change jobs to e-commerce easily. E-commerce is less labor intensive and online retailers can sell more products with fewer workers than traditional stores. Apprenticeship programs that train the youth to adapt to changing economic conditions are required. Retraining programs for adults that reskill them from traditional retail jobs to e-commerce and warehousing jobs are imported because it increases their chance of employment. The government can subsidize firms to provide apprenticeships and training, or they can set up their own government training. They may also improve geographical mobility by offering financial assistance to unemployed workers in rural counties or small metros to encourage them to move to urban areas with higher employment.

However, all these policies have a high opportunity cost. First, the United States has to forego spending in other areas such as healthcare to be able to afford these strategies. Second, minimizing the job loss of the retail industry might not be a priority for their government and society. Finally, they should also consider the time lag since the policies may take years to take effect after implementation. The working population may get impatient if they do not see immediate results.

In conclusion, the United States’ retail industry suffers from structural unemployment. The job market in America is shifting as a result of contracting retail jobs and booming ecommerce and warehousing jobs. Retail positions constitute a high percentage of jobs in rural America and these areas lag in growth and have relatively high unemployment rates. The solution lies in supply-side policies. Depending on the objectives of the economy, government budget, and time frame, the solutions might not be effective or initiate new issues. But if the United States does not tackle its unemployment by industry, they will be hit harder if traditional retail jobs continue to contract and the working population does not adapt to new e-commerce and warehousing jobs.

Essay on Unemployment in America Compared to the Rest of the World

Essay on Unemployment in America Compared to the Rest of the World

The purpose of this report is to discuss about the unemployment rate in United States of America in comparisons with the rest of the world. Unemployment rate refers to the percentage of unemployed people in an economy among people that are currently belonging to labor force. This is computed as unemployed people divided by total labor force and multiple by 100 wherein unemployed people are those that are presently not working but they are seeking work actively. According to Robert E. Hall in 1979, the theory of natural rate of unemployment is established around duration of employment. Most unemployed employees became unemployed because they are on temporary layoff, their previous jobs are about to end and these people have entered into labor force recently (Hall, 1979). This report is focused on unemployment levels in United States of America and in the rest of the world. While talking about unemployment levels in America, we can see that this rate has been increased sharply recently because of Covid-19. Similarly, other countries have also been impacted by Covid-19 and all financial indicators including employment levels have been disturbed or decreased because of coronavirus.

Unemployment Rate in America

The unemployment rate in United States of America has been increased to 14.7 % in April 2020. This rate is the highest in the history of previous years and as compared with market expectations of 16%. The Covid-19 crisis has been thrown millions of people out of their jobs. The number of unemployed people has been increased by 15.9 million to 23.1 million. In contrast, the number of employed people has been reduced by 22.4 million to 133.4 million. This is the lowest rate since January 1973 in this country as the labor force participation rate has been decreased by 2.5 % points throughout the months to 60.2 %.

While talking about the previous years, we can see that unemployment rate in United States of America was reduced as compared with other countries. However, from 2008 to 2010 this was increased and in 2010 it was jumped to 9.25% but afterwards it was again lowered and back to the very good position. However, the same has also been increased to the upmost position that is 14.7 % in 2020. Therefore, we can see that the unemployment rate in United States of America was always in good position or in manageable levels but recently because of the negative impacts of corona virus this has been increased sharply in every country along with United States of America.

Another resource shows that before Covid-19the unemployment rate in United States very good and at a stable position as it was 3.5% in February 2020 and then it was getting increased and rose to 4.4% in March 2020. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it is expected that the unemployment rate in this country will be increased 10% in Q2 of 2020. However, while we talk about an average rate, we can see that from 1949 to 2019 the average rate of unemployment in United States is 5.8%.

Comparison with Rest of the World

Unemployment Rate in World Largest Economies in 2020

While talking about the unemployment rate in the world recently, we can select the most important countries so that their employment rate can be evaluated in contrast with America. It is clearly observed that all countries have been severely impacted by the negative impacts of Corona Virus and they are facing severe challenges in recent years. The rate of corona virus confirmed patients and rate of deaths in United States is getting increased year by year therefore the same has impacted the employment rate, economic growth and other indicators in this country severely.

Switzerland – 3.3% (April 2020); Japan – 2.5% (March 2020); Canada – 13% (April 2020); Germany – 3.5 (March 2020); United Kingdom – 3.9% (March 2020); Sweden – 8.2% (April 2020); Australia – 6.2% (April 2020); Norway – 3.6% (March 2020); France – 7.8% (March 2020); South Korea – 3.8% (April 2020); Saudi Arabia – 5.7% (December 2019); India – 7.8% (February 2020); Brazil – 12.2 (March 2020); Russia – 5.8 (April 2020); United Arab Emirates – 2.64% (December 2019).

Now, we have a look at the unemployed rate has been drastically increased in United States of America as compared with other countries. Although the Covid-19 pandemic has also impacted other countries severely and their unemployment rate has also been decreased significantly but still we can see that they are little bit at stable rate and has not been increased so much as increased in United States of America. In Russia this rate has been jumped to 5.8 and in India it has been jumped to 7.8. Similarly in United Arab Emirates the same was stood at 2.64 in December 2019 and in Saudi Arabia it was observed as 5.7 in December 2019. After United States of America, the Brazil and Canada have also faced severe unemployment as in Brazil it has been increased up to 12.2 in March 2020 and in Canada the same is 13 in April 2020.

Highest Unemployment Rate in 2019

Apart from these countries, there are many countries in the world as well wherein unemployment rate is very much high. According to the United Nations in 2019, the highest unemployment rates in 2019 were observed in occupied Palestine and in Sub-Saharan Africa ((CIA), 2020). In Lesotho this was noted as 28.2% and in Eswatini it was 26.5%. In Occupied Palestine territories it was observed as 26.4% and in Mozambique the same was 24.8% (Statistical Year Book, 2018).

Lowest Unemployment Rate in 2019

Now we are talking about the lowest unemployment rate in the year 2019 then the data has been taken from various government sources of respective countries. By taking this data the lowest unemployment rate was computed in 2019. In Qatar it was 0.1%, in Cambodia it was 0.3%. In Niger it was 0.4% and in Belarus the same was 0.5%. In Laos the same was 0.7% and in Myanmar it was 0.8%. In Bahrain it was 1.2%, in Tonga it was 1.2%, in Thailand it was 1.4% and in Kuwait the same was 2.0%. All these countries were having stunning unemployment rates ranged from 0.1% to 2.0% and these all overcome by United States by a significant margin in 2019.

Unemployment Rate in World’s Largest Economies in 2019

Now we are talking about the world’s largest economies and their unemployment rates in the year 2019. In Japan it was 2.4% and in India the same was 3.5 %. In Germany the same was 3.6% and in United Kingdom the same was 3.9%. In United States it was observed as 4.1% and in China it was 4.1%. In Canada the same was .8% and in France the same was 8.6%. In Italy it was 10.4 % and in Brazil the same was 11.6%. These numbers are showing major changes in coming months because the countries have absorbed the negative of Covid-19 (Statistical Year Book, 2018). The negative impacts of unemployment rates are changed as per our previous expectations based on the how many individuals are impacted ultimately and how severely the countries are hit by Covid-19 and how societal interventions are important to manage the spread of Covid-19 (Furnham, 2000). The United States are forecasted to face 10% unemployment rate by Q2 2020 and the Congressional Budget Office forecasts that the unemployment rate in United States will stand at 9% in the end of 2021 (Labor, 2021).

Conclusion

To conclude, we can see that unemployment rate is the most important financial indicators that are being used for assessing the economic growth of a countries and the economic performance shown by a country. The rate is compared with other countries as well so that meaningful evaluation can be done for various purposes. In this report, we have noted down about the unemployment levels in United States of America that is the super power and largest economy in the world. In United States of America, we can see that the unemployment rate was very low in previous years but currently, this rate has been increased sharply because of the negative effects of Covid-19. In order to further evaluate the unemployment levels, we have compared the unemployment levels of United States of America with rest of the world and it is concluded that other countries have also faced negative impacts of Covid-19, but the unemployment levels in United States have been increased more than other countries. Previously there were many other countries that were having lowest unemployment levels as compared with United States and similarly, in recent years the situation in United States of America is getting worse as compared with other countries in the world. We have used secondary sources for completing this study including published informed by many countries, journal articles and other reliable sources.

Bibliography

  1. (CIA), C. I. (2020). The World Factbook: Mozambique.
  2. Statistical Year Book. (2018). United Nations.
  3. Investopedia. (2020, apr 07). Retrieved may 27, 2020, from https://www.investopedia.com/: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/062315/unemployment-rates-country.asp
  4. Furnham, A. (2000). Work in 2020: Prognostications about the world of work 20 years into the millennium . Journal of Managerial Psychology, Volume 15 Issue 3.
  5. Hall, R. E. (1979). A theory of the natural unemployment rate and the duration of employment . Journal of Monetary Economics, Volume 5, Issue 2, Pages 153-169.
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Educated Unemployment: An Essay

Educated Unemployment: An Essay

Unemployment is a key financial marker since it flags the inability of employees to promptly acquire profitable work to add to the beneficial yield of the economy. The more unemployed people, the lesser economic production. Unemployed people also need to keep up in any event subsistence utilization during their time of unemployment. This implies the economy with high unemployment has lower yield without a corresponding decrease in the requirement for essential utilization. High, tenacious unemployment can bring trouble in an economy and even lead to social and political upheaval. On the other hand, a low unemployment rate implies that the economy is bound to deliver close to its full limit, expanding yield, and driving compensation development and rising expectations for everyday comforts after some time. However, very low unemployment can likewise be a preventative indication of an overheating economy, inflationary weights, and tight conditions for organizations needing extra employees. Unemployment can be categorized as:

  1. Frictional Unemployment: It emerges when an individual is in the middle of employments. After an individual leaves an organization, it normally sets aside some effort to secure another position, making this sort of joblessness brief. It is likewise the least dangerous from a monetary angle. Frictional unemployment is a characteristic consequence of the way that market procedures require some serious energy and data can be exorbitant. Scanning for a new position, enrolling new employees, and coordinating the right workers to the perfect employments all require some serious energy and exertion to do, bringing about frictional unemployment.
  2. Cyclical Unemployment: It is the variety in the quantity of unemployed people through the span of monetary upswings and downturns, for example, changes to oil costs. Unemployment ascends during recessionary periods and decreases during times of monetary development. Preventing and reducing repetitive unemployment during downturns is a significant worry behind the investigation of financial aspects and the reason for the different policy tools that utilize on the drawback of business cycles to stimulate the economy.
  3. Structural Unemployment: It comes through technological change in the structure of the economy in which work markets work. Innovative change, for example, computerization of assembling or the substitution of horse-drawn vehicle via cars, lead unemployment dislodged from employments that are never again required. Retraining these employees can be troublesome, exorbitant, and tedious, and uprooted employees regularly end up either jobless for broadened periods or leaving the work power completely.
  4. Institutional Unemployment: It is the result of long-term or permanent institutional variables and motivating forces in the economy. Government policies, for example, high the lowest pay permitted by law floors, liberal social advantages programs, and restrictive word related authorizing laws; work showcase wonders, for example, productivity wages and biased contracting and work advertise foundations, for instance, high paces of unionization would all be able to add to institutional unemployment.

The stability of the economy of the country rests on the ability to maintain a low unemployment rate and provide a safe secure workplace. According to the Business News Economy, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the number of unemployed people was 516,200 which is increased by 2.5% from 2017 to 2018. This clearly shows our country’s current dilemma towards the global unemployment system. In fact, global youth unemployment is higher than global unemployment which proves the troublous situation of graduates on getting a job to settle with. Malaysia’s headline unemployment states 3.4% where the youth unemployment rate is over three times higher at around 10.8% in 2017. This begs the question, why are so many young Malaysians graduates are unemployed? What are the roots for this never-ending stumbling blocks? Is there any course of actions to get the Malaysian graduates out from this dilemma? If we get to clarify all these questions above, we are on our best way to find many highly talented and deserving employers to stable the economy of our country.

Factors That Cause Unemployment Issues

The main reason for new graduates is on the grounds of unemployment due to their lack of experience and skills. Most of the organizations like to utilize experienced employees rather than those without working experiences. The employers favor experienced representatives because accomplished employees can finish their occupations effectively and won’t investing such a great amount of energy in learning their works compare to those employees without experiences. The employees who are lack of working experience will be having a hard time in finishing the work given on schedule and adjusting to the new condition and less spotlight on the employments. So, the organizations need to provide extra training and courses for those employees and this will definitely add expenses of the organization. Next, the graduates are lack of social and communication skills. The vast majority of the graduates with provincial foundation are lack of social and communication skills because most of the residents staying in villages communicate using their own dialects or mother tongues who occasionally talk in English. However, in Malaysia the all working environment expects every individual to convey efficiently in English and Malay. As indicated by Ministry of Human Resources, it demonstrates that in Malaysia female graduates are jobless compare to male graduates because female is feeble to social skills with low degrees of self-assurance contrast with male graduates despite accomplish brilliant scholarly results.

Education system plays a vital role in unemployment issues. Subjects which are instructed at school, college or university are compatible and not at the level of the occupation necessity of current era. It makes us wonder, why there is a huge gap between what students study and what they actually prerequisite for a job. Nowadays students are concentrating on subjects just for sunning back to get high marks but without understanding the content of subject which is why some highly educated people fail to tackle a job and graduates are unable to find an occupation. Another major problem due to the uneven education system is there is no any proper careers guidance service for students so they having some difficulties to look what type of jobs they can easily tackle and where to look for it. Unemployment rate issues among literate people is much higher than illiterates cause the unemployed youth dilemma which leads to frustration, as well as the crimes in society. Education system in Malaysia affects the quality of education, lack of proper training of teaching stuffs, low salary given to teachers which prompts the urge to give private lessons to students. Such an education system encourages them to memorize instead of thinking inventively. This education system clearly does not help the students to construct their studies independently, how to think creative and be more effectively and developing.

Ways to Solve Unemployment Dilemma

Government should stop the enrollment of foreign employees in Malaysia in order to solve the unemployment issues among graduates. Usually, foreign employees are from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Indonesia. Why they entered our nation in the first place? Foreign workers that legitimately entering this nation can build efficiency and national yield. Even though the population of Malaysia increases over every year, the enrollment of foreign employees is keeps on rising thus multiplying the unemployment issues among the Malaysian. Why do need foreign employees when our nation has highly educated graduates? As a matter of first importance, productivity per employee is characterized as a yield. Even though majority of them don’t get formal training or complete optional school level, the profitability of comparable or considerably higher than local people, who are educated. The most significantly, they don’t grumble unlike local people. They are quick and proficient. Moreover, when we take foreign employees, the employment for the locals is diminishing because they need to contend with foreigners. Indeed, a few organizations lean toward foreign laborers since they are eager to acknowledge lower pay than the neighborhood populace, especially in lower skilled employments. Therefore, increasingly nearby individuals will be jobless and incapable to add to the national economy.

Entrepreneurship is one of the most prominent weapons to neutralize unemployment issue among graduates. Youth as a matter of course are stimulated and enabled, they are happy to investigate new domains and take up new difficulties and risks. By working as an entrepreneur, an individual gets the chance to gets to work at various things, shuffle various jobs which transform them into better pioneers. We all know that entrepreneurship brings huge cash from investors and even remote customers, but it also has a key task to carry out in building a character. When battling unemployment, entrepreneurship is the perfect solution where entrepreneurs open ways to new pursuits, new business, new collusions and so forth. Nowadays entrepreneurs are eager to contract who don’t have formal instruction or a degree but have the correct frame of mind, range of abilities and eagerness to realize, which is a major move in the manner of thinking while the corporate or huge organizations who are determined on enlisting from famous schools or waitlist up-and-comers based on capabilities not capacities. Numerous youthful personalities presently comprehend the significance of taking a gander at a consistent business development, framing the correct group and enabling it to realize that development. Industry specialists state any business that increases the value of the nature of the life of youth will definitely see a tremendous development. New businesses have the chance to develop and turn out to be huge. Consequently, graduates no longer will suffer in unemployment issues instead they will come up with something that challenges and pushing them towards their bright future. Therefore, the government should be a facilitator and not a controller in order to help graduates through entrepreneurship.

Conclusion

Youth unemployment has profound roots. Battling it expects us to challenge customary way of thinking, expelling, where potential, disincentives to employ and to work; by changing schools and colleges and inclining up apprenticeships and tutoring. As we discuss about earlier unemployment issues among graduates is happening due to the lack of experience and skills as well as education system. Therefore, in order to solve this dilemma, all the educators and guardians, entrepreneurs and government should play their role perfectly by not enrolling foreign employees and encourage the graduates in entrepreneurship. However, imagination is the thing that we youths do best. Our crisp, radical and positive personalities must hold onto the activity, consistently reconsidering the future in the midst of the tornado of the present.

The Effects of Unemployment in Kenya

The Effects of Unemployment in Kenya

This paper tries to reviews the effects of unemployment in Kenya. How the effects are leading to home breakage, Kenyans are falling into depression. This has made the young people still in school downhearted and wonders if they will fall victim to unemployment. Unemployment cuts across the country in that, in every five people you meet on street one of them, is unemployed despite all the qualifications they possess. Kenyan has failed to reduce the level of unemployment since it has done nothing at all concerning unemployment. this study was done to get a clear picture of unemployment in Kenya and the effects they bring to Kenya. The impacts of unemployment and the connection linking the creation of job opportunities and the growth of the Kenyan economy. During the research, I found out that the rate of unemployment in Kenya is alarming. The main effects of unemployment can be broken down into mental health problems, social problems like low living standards. Corruption is one of the major causes resulting in the effects of unemployment. The problem with the unemployed people in Kenya is that they are not creative and innovative, they are waiting for employment instead of coming up with business ideas. Unemployed people lack the confidence to create jobs for themselves. Through this research, I found out that the problem lies with the education system which is knowledge-oriented and not skill-oriented. When the graduates come out of tertiary institution, they are full of content and lack practicality to deliver what they are taught while at school resulting in unemployment. this research expounds on the effects of unemployment. it explains the effects of unemployment on Kenya. The government needs to make the tertiary courses more practical than they are, this equips the learners with skills required for the market.

Introduction

I will be discussing the effects of unemployment on Kenya in general. I will be providing answers. Firstly, I will be identifying the effects of unemployment in Kenya. Secondly, I will be explaining how those effects have had a major implication on the families and the government of Kenya and the economy. And finally, I will be using illustrations to show-case how the effects of unemployment.

To begin with, I will first health issues as an effect of unemployment. Here I will use well-illustrated examples of how the Kenyan citizens have been frustrations and how they have acquired diseases out due to lack of employment. Some of the health effects include anxiety and depression due to constantly thinking about how they will secure employment hence contracting such diseases (Harnois & Gabriel, 2002). Here I will traverse in all corners and tackle all issues best of my knowledge about how unemployment has brought about mental disorders. I will also try to explain how unemployment has made it difficult to access medical services since it requires money to be attended to; consultation fees, laboratory fees, and money to buy medicine. Basically, for one to access any services they need money.

Secondly, I will tackle the social challenges that are accompanied by unemployment. The unemployed people are no longer welcoming fearing that when visited by friends and families they might lack what to offer them in return this is as explained by Havitz (2004). Unemployment has also rated the number of crimes in Kenya. This has resulted in people living in tension; the streets are no longer safe as they were before. Unemployment has led to the abuse of drugs and substance abuse. In this section, I will be explaining all the well-known social issues affecting society and the government in general.

Another social problem is that people are forced to engage in activities like prostitution just to be able to put food on the table. Way back in 2009 when paper mills were shut down, the people living around the factory were affected badly. Their living standards turned to worse, people got into a depression since they didn’t know how to take care of their family. Some of the workers took their own lives.

Thirdly, I will be dealing with the economic issues as an effect of unemployment on the Kenyan economy and how they have caused the economic state of Kenya. I will also illustrate how unemployment has made Kenya a begging nation and how it is beyond its debt capacity.

Unemployment has done more harm than good to the jobless persons reducing their chances of being employed. When a person stays out of employment for a longer period of time, they tend to lose their efficiency on their performance hence their chances of securing jobs become fewer and fewer as the day passes (Dolton & O’Neill, 2002). When people are lacking jobs, they have no source of income and hence they cannot afford to pay their rent resulting in loss of their homes.

Unemployment has brought about political uncertainty. With the increasing rate of unemployment in the country, it has led to increased political tension since the unemployed people want jobs and ye none are produced resulting in scarcity and social inequity. Every unemployed person is in search of employment and when they here of a vacancy, the response from the unemployed people is always in large number (Guillebaud, 1942). This number is overwhelming and makes it difficult for them to be accommodated. A day cannot pass without cases of people fighting for jobs and ready to do anything in order to secure employment.

Finally, I will be concluding and giving my conclusions about the effects of unemployment. Unemployment has made life more miserable in Kenya. More to it will be discussed in detail below.

Health Problems

Unemployed has a lot of effects one of them being health-related problems. One of the effects of unemployment is health problems.

Unemployment has brought about mental condition. Longer periods of time without any form of employment have brought about mental problems like depression, low self-esteem, anxiety just to mention a few especially when a person is in dire need of employment as illustrated by Burdo (2018). This comes when the person seeking employment is true needs employment. Depression is achieved when the unemployed person thinks a lot about how to get employed but finding none. The inability of not being able to pay the bills will lead to one thinking a lot bringing about tension to occur to the individual and hence resulting to anxiety, depression and reduce the self-esteem of the person seeking employment (Jin, Sha, & Svoboda, 1997). This may also result in loss of human life.

Unemployment has led to the acquisition of diseases. This happens when the person seeking a job, does everything in their power possible to yield employment but nothing comes their way as stated by Burdo (2018). This has led to one thinking a lot resulting in one getting diseases like high blood pressure which comes about when one thinks a lot. The jobless people think about what will happen tomorrow how will they settle their bills. The unemployed persons lack basic commodities and sleep on an empty stomach and go for a longer period of time without consuming any food, this results in ulcers.

Unemployment has also made it difficult to access health services. For one to be examined, diagnosed or even treated they must have money and thus making it difficult for the jobless person to get medical services as elaborated by Hollands (2012). Doing the lab test requires money, without money you one cannot buy medicine let alone doing consultations with a medical practitioner making the unemployment vulnerable to sickness since they have no cash with them. This puts a major challenge to the unemployed people in the Kenyan society since accessing treatment is expensive.

Tension occurs leading to anxiety and the body to strain. The unemployed persons tend to think a lot about how they will survive and how to secure employment (Burdo, 2018). Unemployment has led to an increase in anxiety attacks in the country. The state of the mind of the Kenyan people is wanting, many youths have been diagnosed with anxiety and advised to seek counseling. This trend is becoming more common as the rate of unemployed persons has increased drastically. Re-employment has been one of the key solutions and the most definite cure of regaining the mental health of the unemployed people (Harnois & Gabriel, 2002).

Social Problems Due to Unemployment

Unemployment has brought about major implications for society. Unemployment has led to an increased rate of crime. An idle mind is a devil workshop and since the Kenyan person spends most of their time looking for employment finding none they resort to crime as outlined by Havitz (2004). They engage in burglary and robbery activities which are dangerous. This being the only way to generate income, but it comes at a cost; someone must be injured in the process. It is a do or die problem since it may result in death or acquiring injuries. Since they have to survive and settle their bills, they are forced to do the unthinkable.

Unemployment has led to tension at home. It is said that money makes life more comfortable and without it, life becomes unbearable. Unemployment has led to the breakup of many families as their family expenses cannot be catered. Families engage in arguments and quarrels resulting to increase of divorce. Family fights are on the rise and are constantly being reported occasionally.

High level of accidents. Most of the unemployed persons in Kenya have lost the meaning of life. They see themselves as not worthy to live, this makes them resort to taking their own lives in different ways. Some chose to end their lives by throwing themselves in front of speeding vehicles, some choose to hang themselves, as stated by Jin, Sha, & Svoboda (1997). Some of the people alternate to killing their entire life with the notion that they are setting their loved ones free from suffering.

Unemployment has led to increasing in drugs and substance abuse. The abuse of drugs has led to the contraction of diseases like HIV/AIDS through the sharing of syringes while using the drugs. Since the unemployed have nothing constructive to do they result to drowning their sorrows with alcohol, smoking cigarettes and bhang; this drug abuse has led to them acquiring diseases are very harmful to their health as it attracts diseases like liver cirrhosis, lung cancer and many more other as illustrated by Dolton and O’Neill (2002). And some of these diseases are not curable and have major effects on society and the individual at large.

Unemployment has led to stigmatization in Kenya. Unemployment brings more than just no work the individual it also brings about the disgrace that the unemployed person has to endure since no one likes to be referred as unemployed or an idle person. Stigmatization has led the unemployed to have low self-esteem and not trusting their own actions.

Unemployment has led to low standards of living. Since the unemployed persons have no income to cater to the basic needs, their life basically is a hand to mouth; they take what comes their way they have no choice as elaborated by Grusky, Western and Wimer (2011). This has brought about major repercussions like malnutrition due to improper feeding. Increased rate of disease attraction since there is no balanced diet hence the defense mechanism of the body is weakened.

Hollands (2012) found out that unemployment has let to immoral activities have. Unemployment has forced people with no jobs to engage in prostitution just to put food on the table. Sex has been commercialized and it is no longer sacred as it was created for. It is being used to generate income. Unemployment has forced persons with no employment to engage in immoral activities just to make their life better.

Unemployment has reduced the number of social outings. This is because there is no money for such activities and the few, they have is not even enough to cater to the family needs. The level of interactions between friends is decreasing drastically due to lack of money and time for the activity as elaborated by Guillebaud (1942). Some see this as a waste of time, instead of visiting one another they may as well spend that time in search of employment. Unemployment has made persons fear to visit one another as they have nothing to offer. The East African Railways was amongst the largest employers in Kenya and when it was shut down it led to loss of jobs and many people lost their jobs the case is the same when poster was forced to reduce its staff this led to reduced number of social outings and family visiting the upcountry (Frank & Charles, 1938).

Economic Issues

Unemployment has increased the rate of government borrowing. When the number of the unemployed increases the amount of revenue collection drops because the number of people working making the government to incur more debt by borrowing this is as explained by Burdo (2018). This will force the government to come up with projects that will help those within the source of income, this makes the Kenyan government spend money meant for development to the unemployed people (Frank and Charles, 1938). The government of Kenya not only pay the unemployed but also the family of the unemployed also are given some household things (Guillebaud, 1942).

The spending power of the unemployed is limited. The unemployed people have no place to generate income but what they can do is spend. This makes them spend restrict fully. As time goes by their expenditure decreases immensely and the problem is that they prefer saving to spending hence their spending power is limited this is as proven by Burdo (2018). As the expenditure reduces the economy is tempered with hence a stagnant or depreciating economy that is not able to grow and fund itself resulting to borrowing from other nations and the world bank this is as clarified by Dolton and O’Neill (2002).

Unemployment reduces the gross domestic product. With the high number of unemployed people in Kenya show-cases that the economy is operating below its complete ability and it is working below its potential resulting in the government giving out more but getting nothing in return (Burdo, 2018). This pushes the government into more debts making Kenya not to work towards the vision 2030 goal but to work towards settling its debt (Havitz, 2004).

A long period of unemployment will result to wearing away of the skill. Simpson (2019) states that the more a person stays without practicing what they are trained for, they tend to forget how to perform and deliver their skills resulting in loss of the skill. This simply is stealing from the economy since the skill remains idle and no achievement is achieved from the trained skill resulting in the slow growth of the economy. This will also lead to denial of basic needs like education to the family of the unemployed being locked out of school due to lack of school fees.

Unemployment leads to loss of human capital. When people stay out of employment for a longer period of time makes them loose on the monthly training that keeps the employers at per with the emerging trends about the jobs and hence reducing the level of service delivery, this is as labeled by Dolton and O’Neill (2002). If an employee is out of employment for a longer period of time, they tend to lose the vital element of the job, this results in slower service delivery as illustrated by Simpson (2019).

Conclusion

Unemployment is a critical issue that cuts across the country, tackling it needs professionalism. The effects are tremendous as discussed above. The only way we can reduce the number of depressed people, the number of divorces, the rate of people taking their own lives is through coming up with measures to reduce unemployment in Kenya. Children have been forced out of schools, families have been forced to relocate back to upcountry due to the high cost of living and yet they have no source of income to settle the bills. This discussion can go on and on over decades but if we don’t face it as a country, it will still haunt us.

References

  1. Burdo, H. (2018, October 25). The Positive & Negative Effects of Unemployment. Retrieved from biz fluent: https://bizfluent.com/12082582/cons-of-welfare
  2. Dolton, P., & O’Neill, D. (2002, April). The Long‐Run Effects of Unemployment Monitoring and Work‐Search Programs: Experimental Evidence from the United Kingdom. Journal of Labor Economics, 20, 23. DOI:10.1086/338686
  3. Frank, J., & Charles, R. (1938, July). Urban Unemployment and Economic Growth in Africa. Oxford Economic Papers, 65 No 4, 25. DOI:e/2662403
  4. Grusky, D. B., Western, B., & Wimer, C. (2011). The Great Recession. Russell Sage Foundation. DOI:10.7758/9781610447508
  5. Guillebaud, C. W. (1942). The Economic Journal. Effects of Unemployment upon the Worker’s Social Relations and Practices, 123, 4. DOI:10.2307/2225723
  6. Harnois, G., & Gabriel, P. (2002). Mental health and Work: impact, issues, and good practices. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/712.pdf
  7. Havitz, M. E. (2004). The Diverse Worlds of Unemployed Adults: Consequences for Leisure, Lifestyle, and Well-being. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu.libraryspu.remotexs.co/book/12175#info_wrap
  8. Hollands, K. (2012). Effects of Unemployment on Health and Mental Based on Gender. Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers, 47. Retrieved from https://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/38/
  9. Jin, R. L., Sha, C. P., & Svoboda, T. J. (1997). The Impact of Unemployment on Health: A Review of the Evidence. Journal of Public Health Policy, 18, 27. DOI:10.2307/3343311
  10. Simpson, S. D. (2019, May 7). The Cost of Unemployment to the Economy. Retrieved from Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0811/the-cost-of-unemployment-to-the-economy.aspx

An Essay on the Long-Term Effects of Unemployment on a Person

An Essay on the Long-Term Effects of Unemployment on a Person

As we all know unemployment has many effects on the individual. Whether you want to apply for a job in your home country or even in another country, unemployment is becoming a big issue that many countries are facing. Whether it’s due to robots doing a more efficient and faster job than humans or maybe even a more precise job than humans, this issue is becoming a worldwide issue that must be solved. And that’s why in this essay we will be discussing the effects of unemployment on the individual. And how these effects are leading many people to problems like depression, anxiety and other kinds of illnesses.

So, as we all know the effects of unemployment is causing many people various of issues like depression, and many other health problems. Studies show that workers who became unemployed are most likely to die a year or two earlier than what a normal person would. Also, studies show that the more time the person spends being unemployed the more severe these health and other issues become. And that’s why these many health issues that occur to an unemployed worker are very dangerous. Because these issues may ultimately lead the unemployed worker to resolve his problems by committing various crimes and other uncivil acts. And that’s why there are many effects of unemployment on the individual like health consequences, future employment, and social life.

First let’s discuss the effects of unemployment on the individual’s health. One of the many effects that unemployment has on the individual’s health is increasing the stress levels of the unemployed person. For example, the unemployed person may have a family to feed and take care of. So, the stress of providing for the family may cause the unemployed person to have high levels of anxiety. And that’s mainly due to constantly having to worry about earning enough money to provide and care for the family. Another effect of unemployment on one’s health is the increase in risk of getting sick or ill and the increase in smoking/alcohol consumption. Now when the unemployed person has high levels of anxiety and lack of sleep that can cause the person to get sick or ill. which is mainly due to the body not getting enough rest and time to recuperate. Which ultimately causes the immune system to become weak and unable to defend the body from the risk of getting an illness. Also, high levels of anxiety can increase the unemployed person’s consumption of alcohol and smoking. “More than 26,000 lives may be lost to the effects of drug abuse this year. This tragic impact is felt in communities across this great nation. Sadly, many of these deaths occur among our young people” (Cummings, 2019). And that’s due to the unemployed person trying to find a way to cope with the anxiety and depression.

Second let’s talk about the effects of unemployment on the individual’s future employment. Some of the effects of unemployment on the individual’s future employment is the difficulty of finding work in the future. And that’s mainly due to the unemployed workers losing their job skills from being unemployed for a long period of time. Which may cause the employers to refuse the unemployed worker from working at that specific company or business. Also, unemployed workers may result to learning new skills for certain jobs because of this long period of time being unemployed and losing their prior skills of their previous job. Another effect of unemployment on one’s future employment is the increase in competition for employment. Because of the unemployed person losing their skills from being unemployed for a long time. That can make the competition of employment even stronger. And that’s due to not having unique skills and experience to make the unemployed person unique.

Finally let’s talk about the effects of unemployment on the individual’s social life. One of the effects that unemployment has on the individual’s life is the increase in crime activity. According to Cash, “Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight” (2019). When a person is constantly in desperate situations that can cause the dark side of that person to appear. “Desperate affairs require desperate measures” (Nelson, 2019). And that’s why these desperate situations are very dangerous. As they can cause the person to start questioning their morals and do things that they might regret in the future. Another way unemployment effects the individual’s social life is causing a lot of family tension and housing stress. When the unemployed person is constantly trying to get a new job that can cause a lot of housing stress and family tension. And that’s due to the anxiety of constantly thinking of your financial situation.

In conclusion, there are many effects of unemployment on the individual like health consequences, future employment, and social life. Whether these effects can harm society in a good or bad way, we can all agree that unemployment nowadays is a big issue that must be resolved. And that’s why in my opinion I think that people should try to find ways to resolve the issue of unemployment. As solving this issue can reduce the anxiety and stress of finding a job. And can also help people avoid the increase in alcohol and smoking consumption due to the anxiety and stress caused by unemployment.

References

  1. Elijah Cummings Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/elijah_cummings_347181
  2. Johnny Cash Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/johnny_cash_386019
  3. Horatio Nelson Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/horatio_nelson_167954

How to Reduce Unemployment? Essay

How to Reduce Unemployment? Essay

Reducing the unemployment rate in a country is one of the responsibilities of the local authorities to ensure that the people and producers of the country have sufficient resources. As we all know, unemployment can be caused by two sides, namely demand-side failures and supply-side failures. Therefore, there are two strategies used to address the problem of unemployment namely the demand-side policies, which is to reduce unemployment caused by recession, and the supply-side policies, to reduce structural unemployment.

Demand-Side Policies

The government, in its efforts, could control the economic recession and cyclical unemployment it caused by applying demand-side policies modelled by the Keynesian unemployment theory. The policy proposes that the government increase spending and lower taxes so that the people’s disposable income increases. If income increases, then aggregate demand (AD) will increase. There are two ways under this policy: fiscal policy and monetary policy.

Fiscal Policy

Fiscal policy will be implemented if the government wants to increase aggregate demand and enhance overall economic growth. This policy involves cutting tax rates and increasing government spending. If the government does this, the disposable income of the people will increase and cause more consumption and demand. This will increase aggregate demand (AD) and subsequently increase real gross domestic product (GDP). If demand is high, manufacturers will produce and supply more and offer more jobs and thus reduce unemployment. Also, as aggregate demand increases, fewer bankruptcies will result in fewer people losing their jobs due to the productive economy.

However, this policy also has its disadvantages. This policy also depends on the willingness of the buyer to buy. Tax deductions will not increase AD if people prefer to save rather than spending for some reasons. Secondly, this policy provides for a long time to affect the AD increase. Also, inflation will occur if this step is implemented in a situation where the economy is almost fully capable because fiscal policy only works if there is an output gap. Lastly, in order to carry out this step, the government requires a lot of funds to borrow and this is not possible for countries with high debt levels.

Monetary Policy

Monetary policy will involves controlling and distribution of money in an economy where here it reduces the interest rates to promote loan-making. If interest rates on making loans are low, many people will be encouraged to borrow at lower costs and to spend more and invest more. Also, reducing interest rates can improve export competitiveness in order to raise the demand in the circular flow. All of this could lead to an increase in AD and in turn increases GDP, thus firms producing more and will in turn employ more workers and therefore, the unemployment rate will start to decline.

Monetary policy also has drawbacks, like fiscal policy, it depends on other AD components such as the willingness of buyers to spend and consume because household may borrow but not spending much. In addition, interest rate reductions cannot encourage AD increases if financial institutions such as banks find it difficult to provide loans, especially to lower income group, due to low interest rates returns.

Supply-Side Policies

Supply-Side Policies

The supply-side policy to improve employment issues focuses a lot on microeconomics aspects. This policy does not intend to improve AD, but focuses on labor market problems and solve them. Supply-side unemployment includes frictional, structural and classical. There are many policies used to address the issues of unemployment caused by supply-side.

Education and Training

Education and training schemes need to be focused on skills and qualifications that will enable the unemployed to find jobs in the new industry. This policy aims to reduce structural unemployment where it is caused by a mismatch between the workers’ skills and the ones needed by the employers. Through this, the government can fund training schemes in areas where there is a shortage of skilled workers. For example, if hospitals are lacking of nurses, the unemployed can undergo vocational training in the field of nursing for free. This will enhance the skills and marketability of the unemployed to meet the emerging labor market.

Despite that, there may be weaknesses by the government. For example, government departments may be slow to respond to changing market choices and subsidize training schemes that employers no longer need. Also, offering a training scheme will not necessarily have a high worker’s intake rate if the unemployed are unsure or unable to learn and acquire new training and skills as they are not sure of the benefits.

Employment Subsidies

Employment subsidies or hiring subsidies are steps taken to open up job opportunities by providing financial incentives to the private sector to hire long-term unemployed by reducing labor costs for firms. Labor costs can be reduced through subsidies to cover payroll. This led firms to hire more workers and in turn increase the employment rate. Also, the increasing demand for labor will encourage inactive workers to enter and fill the vacant workforce.

However, if these subsidies are only provided for a limited period of time, firms may only take advantage of this period and subsequently reduce the number of workers not long after the subsidies are withdrawn. This reduces the effectiveness of this measure over the long term. In addition, if this step were only given to the long-term unemployed to start working, the firm might act by replacing current workers with many more long-term unemployed to gain incentive benefits and reduce cost. Also, this measure requires a lot of funding and spending from the government and it could be a burden in the long run for the government’s debts.

Geographical Labor Mobility

The unemployment rate in some areas is higher than in others. This is also known as geographical unemployment where employment opportunities in their current location are limited and opportunities for them to migrate to areas of increasing employment are also constrained by the costly housing factor. Therefore, the government can take steps to provide and build affordable housing or provide financial assistance to the unemployed to relocate to labor-intensive areas. For example, the government of Malaysia has taken the initiative to address such unemployment by providing housing allowance to all public servants that varies in amount according to different area of stay to help them settle.

However, other factors also contribute to the geographic immobility, such as when workers are unable or unwilling to be relocated to new areas due to strong social and family ties where the unemployed cannot distance away from family and friends. Also, some parents do not want to interfere with their children’s education with the need to change school setting. Moving to a new place can be a pressure for some people to adapt to new surroundings or even to be familiar with new cultures which can also be barriers to relocating the unemployed.

In conclusion, it should be noted that unemployment is a serious socio-economic problem that requires immediate action from the state to reduce its level.

Unemployment as a Social Problem: Essay

Unemployment as a Social Problem: Essay

Employment (the number, quality, and security of jobs available) is an important social concept. The fact that income is directly correlated to employment creates the societal notion of class. As such, lack of employment is, consequently, also an important economic aspect that has a direct connotation with the make-up of the society. This literature review aims at effectively analyzing the extent to which unemployment negatively impacts society (unemployment as a social problem) through the eyes of 5 credible sources that explore the same.

Introduction

The conventional perceptions regarding employment (or lack thereof) involve the economic perceptions of the same. The number of job opportunities available is normally directly associated with complex economic factors and concepts such as GDP, GNP and the like. However, in-depth analysis into countries, regions and even societies in the world with varied and different employment rates reveals an obvious disparity between the social and cultural framework of these societies.

Social elements and factors such as race, crime, drug, and alcohol abuse have a direct connotation with the rates of unemployment. Economists and social scientists alike continuously strive to establish the various causes and effect relationship between unemployment levels and the general make-up of the society. The same will be further explored in this paper.

Literature Review

Ben Casselman’s article ‘With 8 Years of Job Gains, Unemployment Is Lowest Since 1969’ is an exploration of the state of employment (and unemployment) of America as in 2018. Casselman explores the changes in unemployment rates since 1969 through descriptive statistics. According to the article, unemployment in America fell to a record level over the past 50 years (3.7%). Consequently, more Americans (more than 50%) fall in the middle-class income category. As such, more Americans live comfortably, they have access to healthcare services, save, and can afford holidays and vacations among other perks of living in this income category. As such, more American are receiving treatment for mental problems, recovering from drug abuse. Also, less American is engaging in crime and other social evils. Indeed, America has almost fully recovered from the effects of the 2008 recession, with average income growing by 3% since 2008. However, what does this growth and expansion of income mean for society?

Further developing on the casual inferences made by Casselman on unemployment, it is imperative to investigate the relationships between societies with significant levels of employment with one that is considered the opposite. According to ‘Addressing Individual and Community Impact of Mass Unemployment: A Public Health Response Framework’ (2017), the work of Homolova, Grey, Bellis, and Davies, there is a subtle relationship between rates of employment and certain health-based factors affecting the society. For example, the authors identify a positive relationship between mortality rates and unemployment. They suggest societies with higher rates of employment have higher mortality rates. Unemployed people are more likely to be depressed, engage in drug and alcohol abuse as well as commit suicide, more so if the unemployed individual(s) has dependents. Unemployed people are 30% more likely to engage in these practices that potentially decrease their chances of survival.

According to Fallahi, Pourtaghi and Rodríguez’s ‘The Unemployment Rate, Unemployment Volatility, and Crime’, deviating from the scary correlations of unemployment and death, another obvious implication and impact of unemployment is a crime. Indeed, areas and societies such as Honduras, Ecuador, South Africa, and other low-income and high employment countries face the problems of subsequent high crime rates. Indeed, the authors of the above-stated article tried to explore the exact relationships between unemployment and the frequency (and type) of crimes associated with the same in contemporary American society. Although all forms of crime generally increase as a result of unemployment, as stated by the authors, there are underlying relationships between certain crimes and unemployment (both short term and long-term unemployment). For example, the authors discovered significant direct correlations between theft, grand theft auto, and burglaries with short term unemployment. Indeed, the need for income creates a sense of desperation among the recently unemployed, leading them to engage in these forms of crime.

Brand in his ‘The Far-Reaching Impact of Job Loss and Unemployment’ (2015) tries to deviate from the transcending impacts of job loss and unemployment on the society in general (the socioeconomic impacts) and tries to focus on the subtle impact of the same on the individual. In this regard, he tries to explore the socio-economic implications of job loss and employment. He cites the most prevalent impacts of unemployment and job loss is the deteriorating psychological well-being of the individual. He cites the disruption of an individual’s status and structure of their relationships, which normally includes societal stigma faced by the person, anxiety, insecurity, and shame as transcending impacts of unemployment on the individual. A person’s societal role is disrupted once unemployed, which further disrupts their position and respect in the society. The overall effect of the same as already discussed, in the increased probability of engaging in crime, drugs or even suicide to escape from the psycho-social effects of unemployment cited by Band.

Boland and Griffin’s book ‘The Sociology of Unemployment’ is a conventional exploration of the sociological impacts of unemployment. Instead of describing and exploring unemployment as the lack of employment, it seeks to describe unemployment as an experience, a social ailment affecting all members of the society: children, the homeless, politicians and, ironically, the employed. The book’s exploration of employment is as enlightening as it is interesting. It seeks to explain the impact of unemployment on the society, the changes of class and societal role associated with unemployment, the prevalence of divorce and deteriorating relationships as a result of unemployment. It also tries to explore the contemporary view of unemployment, and the view of the same being the consequence of poor policies by politicians and the government that does not necessarily promote social welfare. Indeed, the key focus of the book is the exploration of the society’s perception of organizations and authorities that are tasked with creating employment opportunities and the social dissatisfaction in these institutions, as well as the role these institutions play in promoting social welfare through employment.

Theory/Discussion Section

Indeed, the problem of unemployment directly affects the unemployed individual. However, the indirect impacts of unemployment affect almost all people in direct social relationship with this individual: spouses, siblings, children, and dependents like the elderly (parents). Unemployment halts income flow in households. As a result, the direct dependents of the unemployed experience difficulty and lack in meeting their needs. Healthcare, education housing and other need become difficult to meet. However, unemployment benefits the higher ups in the class structure of the society (the rich and business owners) because they tend to spend less on labor, thus increasing their profits and earnings. Also, politicians get incentives to politicize the same for their gain.

The history of unemployment dates back to the industrial revolution. As the American society shifted from a predominantly agrarian society to an industrialized society, industries and companies were set up in soon-to-be buzzing urban centers. They attracted millions of people from all over the world who were fond of the idea of getting regular pay with little input and investment. However, class culture and marginalization of the labor force created social divisions between the business owners and the workers. Lay-offs became an aspect of American society, hence the concept of unemployment. The same transformation was felt and experienced in other parts of the world. The dynamics of employment faced during that time, still affect the society till this day.

The prevalent social institutions concerned with unemployment include the government, business organizations, and workers. The government strives to regulate the largely bad relationship between the labor force and business organizations (each front their interest at the expense of the other). These stakeholders can either interact (at least, as far as unemployment is concerned) at individual, organizational, national and sometimes even international level. Labor unions generally represent workers in such engagements. They try to advocate for fair treatment of workers (prevent unfair and unwarranted layoffs as well as promoting increased employment rates). In terms of possible solutions, the solution to the unemployment problem largely lies with government institutions. If policymakers create environments that improve and stimulate business growth, as well as advocating for fair treatment of workers, more people will be employed and satisfied with their work.

Conclusion

Indeed, unemployment is largely considered an economic problem. However, there is a direct connotation between unemployment and society. Essentially, these social connotations of unemployment either befall the individual or those in close social proximity with the individual. The unemployed are more likely to engage in crime, drugs and are more susceptible to depression and other psychological effects of the same that hinders their ability for positive and proactive sociological interaction. They are unable to fulfill their roles and face stigma and deteriorating relationships. However, the ability and responsibility of dealing with unemployment rest with the governments since its main role are to use its authority to promote social welfare.

References

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