Sociology can be defined as the organized study of social behavior and human groups or simply the study of society. It is a very important field in our day to day lives. This is because it provides individuals with an informative perspective of what is around them through the relation of individual experiences with the expectations of the society as a whole.
There are various social problems which could be looked at from a sociological perspective for instance poverty, unemployment, homelessness, racism, sexism and alcohol/drug addiction among others (Giddens and Griffiths, 2006). For the sake of this assignment, I will discuss the issue of Being unemployed and the impact of unemployment as a broad subject. A sociological imagination will be used to discuss the connection between individual experiences and the social impact of unemployment.
Being Unemployed and the Impact of Unemployment as a Broad Issue
In as much as we would like to take the issue of unemployment at an individual level, it is not possible since it touches on the society as whole and hence the need to discuss the impact it has on the society. According to Ballantine and Cargan (1994), sociological imagination is the process whereby an individual perceives his or her life in the context of the society around. It will be used to discuss this issue so as to gain a deeper understanding.
Unemployment entails the state of people having no jobs despite the fact that they are qualified and have been looking for employment chances but in vain. Although unemployment is mostly viewed in an economic perspective it is a social problem since it does not only affect the unemployed but also the society as a whole. On an individual level, an unemployed person lacks income, may get depressed; have low standards of living and thus a compromised welfare.
Some of the societal effects of unemployment include increased rates of crime where people engage in criminal activities in an effort to meet their needs. Unemployment is also associated with a rise in divorce rates since people in marriages are not able to solve their financial related problems.
There are also instances of mental and physical illnesses due to stress emanating from lack of jobs. Unemployment contributes to the problem of homelessness as people are not in a position to pay for households. There is also the aspect of greater reliance on government assistance which in turn exacerbates the economic stress on social oriented programs. Taxpayers are also in a problem of having to support the unemployed (Fineman, 1987).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is evident that the study of sociology is helpful in our understanding of what surrounds us and it helps people to view an aspect that affects them to the overall effects it exerts on the entire society. It helps in the elimination of the thought that ones personal life can only be viewed in respect to his or her successes and failures. Instead, sociology helps one to link his or her life to the society.
Sociology is therefore useful in tackling different issues exhaustively rather than taking them at an individual level. The unemployment issue is for instance well understood when it is looked at on the perspective of the impacts it have on the society as a whole rather than on an individual.
Reference List
Ballantine, J., and Cargan, L. (1994). Sociological Footprints: Introductory Readings in Sociology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Fineman, S. (1987). Unemployment: Personal and Social Consequences. London: Routledge,
Giddens, A., and Griffiths, S. (2006). Sociology, 5th Ed. Malden, MA: Polity Press
Deindustrialization can be occasioned by a number of reasons. Common among them are the outsourcing of jobs, off shoring and introduction of new methods of production.
Other causes may be related to the improvement in technology, which may lead to workers being redundant and the privatization of industries. The effects of both deindustrialization and downsizing that are evidenced due to changing demographics and changing geographic locations of industries depending on the costs to be incurred have very many negative consequences on both the economy and the society.
The major losses to the economy are evidenced in lost revenue due to the relocation or close down of industries, which results in unemployment. If the regime is seen as being incapable of availing jobs to people, then, the resultant unrest due to instability occasioned by desperate citizens may be very detrimental. Additionally, deindustrialization and downsizing cause inequality in the society with some people earning more than others, which is unhealthy to the economic success of any country.
Perhaps the greatest effects of deindustrialization and downsizing are felt in the society as unemployment rates soar causing some members of the society to be dependant on others. The result is long-term financial difficulties for families and in the United States in particular, some economic experts assert that the unemployment rate affects only a small percentage of the population. However, when comparing statistics, it is obvious that there is an increase in the number of people who have been unemployed for over six months.
This is the time that people exhaust government assistance and their savings as well. After prolonged unemployment, people plunge into more credit card debt, which may result in the reduction in their retirement savings even to the extent of being forced to incur other relocation related expenses. Unemployment therefore contributes to an increased number of Americans living below the poverty line.
People who have been unemployed for a long time may be forced to sell their houses since they cannot afford to pay mortgages. Just like finding employment, it is very difficult to find a person wiling to buy a house as increased unemployment causes the housing sector to be glutted. Therefore, people abandon their houses in search of employment elsewhere. When unemployment occurs on a large scale, then, many people abandon their homes bringing the value of the neighborhood down.
The loss of jobs does not only lead to the loss of wages. In most cases, people lose access to healthcare. A survey conducted by Urban Institute shows that each time the unemployment rate goes up by 1%, there is an increase in the uninsured by 1.1 million (Sack pp2). Even those who have been laid off cannot afford copays and other deductions hence avoid paying them leading to the avoidance of healthcare altogether.
The fact that able-bodied people lack employment opportunities causes many problems in the family setup. Many neighborhoods in the US have been affected by decay. This means that abandoned homes become bases for drug dealers to operate from. Some homes have further been broken into with property being looted and vandalized.
Desperate people take anything that is worth selling from these homes, which means that the properties eventually become derelict and the only option is to demolish them leading to massive losses to their owners and causing further anguish.
In conclusion, it is possible to say that unemployment which is a direct result of industries downsizing and deindustrialization has very many negative consequences on any economy including that of the US as well as on the family setup. It does not only increase poverty levels but also brings with it negative reactions like drug dealing, crime and a recipe for a dysfunctional society.
Works Cited
Sack, Kevin. “Study Warns Job Losses Will Strain Government Health Programs,” New York Times, 29 April 2008. Web.
Because of their specific labor force or, to be more exact, the large quantity and the peculiar source of their labor force, the Gulf Cooperation Countries have developed a unique and rather non-flexible approach towards its legal immigrant population, which has resulted in a complicated situation in such countries as Doha and Dubai.
Focusing on the issues of immigration in general and the complexities which the GCC countries have in relation to the issue of immigration in particular, the given paper provides a detailed account of the current state of affairs within the above-mentioned states, as well as suggests certain measures which can possibly improve the existing situation.
Indeed, if taking a closer look at the above-mentioned states, one will notice that they share a number of common features, such as the fact that the native representatives of the Doha and Dubai culture are only in the 20 percent isle (Facts on File, Inc. 210), while the rest are immigrants. It is also important to add that both Doha and Dubai are ranked pretty high on the list of the states with a relatively high complex index on the efficacy of law as compared to the rest of the states all over the world.
Taking a closer look at the two above-mentioned facts, one can possibly find a relation between them; to put it simpler, it can be theorized that the immigration into the countries of the GCC has had its impact on the existing laws in the Gulf countries. The given discovery raises a lot of questions, among which the concern for the laws in the countries where the native population is fewer than the number of immigrants can be mentioned.
To start with, it is necessary to keep in mind that there are a range of similarities between Qatar and the UAE. With immigrants making the bulk of their population and their capitals, Doha and Dubai, being among the world’s leaders, these two share a number of similar features.
However, there are also a couple of differences between the two megalopolises, especially when reconsidering the driving force behind them. While Doha remains the cultural heart of Qatar, Dubai bets on its technological advances; and, to their credit, with this approach, both cities benefit from their actual assets. In addition, the economical progress of Doha seems somewhat slackened, while Dubai, quite on the contrary, rushes at a very fast pace.
However, there is not much distinction between the cities to be made when speaking of the economical approach which they undertake – both seem to have chosen a more globally-oriented type of economical policy to run the state. In the light of the globalization, the given approach seems more than reasonable; once the GCC countries meet the standards of the European countries, they will be able to enter the world market easily.
The key topic of the given research is to figure out whether the increase of the number of immigrants and the fact that the current labor force in a lot of the GXX countries is practically made of immigrants has anything to do with the change of laws within the county and whether the changes in the country legislation will become even more drastic once the number of immigrants increases.
In addition, the given paper will also address such issues as the development of the political regulations in the GCC countries in general, as well as the issues which the fusion of the traditional Western and more exotic non-Western laws can lead to. The given paper aims at proving the fact that in the cities like Dubai or Doha, because of the attempts to keep up with the European countries and to provide the necessary laws and regulations which the immigrant workers demand, the economy and the political state of affairs is at risk.
The Methods of Research and the Data Collection
To provide an adequate response to the issues raised above, the method of an academic research has been chosen; with the help of the given paper format, it will be possible not only to evaluate the major features of the GCC countries concerning such fields as culture, religion, economy and language, but also to provide a detailed account of the countries which the immigrants come from.
Hence, the key problems concerning the immigrant labor and the reforms which have to be made for the GCC society to remain as integrated as it is now, can be outlined. In addition, the previous reforms in the given spheres, as well as their impact on the current situation, can be traced.
Literature Review: Embracing the Existing Ideas
Before exploring the issue in question, one must mention that there is little evidence as for the instances in which the rights of the immigrant workers in Doha and Dubai or any other city of the countries in GCC were infringed. Even though there are a number of researches on immigrant labor forces in the GCC countries, these studies are still focused on different issues, and the change of regulations related to the influx of the immigrant labor forces is often not the main focus of these papers.
However, it is worth mentioning that, when considered altogether, these papers help create a vivid picture of the state of affairs within the GCC countries. Incorporating the information from the Census Bureau and other related sources, the statistical data offers a lot of food for thoughts.
Exploring the Gulf Region: Migration and the Related Issues
Viewpoints: Migration and the Gulf.
The source mentioned above offers a range of papers on the policies towards immigrants in the GCC countries; one of the most important issues concerning the given source is that the papers were written solely by the scholars who specialized in Middle Eastern studies and, to be more exact, on the studies concerning the infringements of human rights in the GCC countries.
In every paper, there is a different problem concerning immigrants’ rights depicted, and an adequate solution of the problem is offered. The given research deals with the amount of immigrant workers in the GCC, as well as on the policies which are executed to regulate the immigrant workforce and the probable future reforms.
Across the South Asia: Changing Location in Search for Employment
Labour migration, employment and poverty alleviation in South Asia.
In contrast to the previous paper, Khatri’s one can be classified as a report; it summarized in a nutshell the state of affairs within the GCC countries on the issue of immigrant’s employment.
Among the issues which the report highlights, the countries which have the greatest amount of immigrants are listed, and the key objectives for meeting the high standards of life for immigrants are set. Which is even more important, the report makes it clear that the authorities took care for the newly adopted reforms to align with the interests of the native residents of the state.
According to the results summary offered in the report, the key solution which the Regional Seminar on labour and migration came up with was to check the incoming information from the countries of immigrants’ origin and sending the inquiries concerning the specified information to analyze the recurrent instances of immigrants’ abuse and to figure out what course of actions should be drawn to address the situation with immigrants’ rights infringement in the GCC states.
Along Qatar and UAE: Immigration Laws and Regulations
The legal regulation of migrant workers, politics and identity in Qatar and the UAE by David Mednicof.
The paper by Mednicof addresses the question set in the given research, i.e., the role which the immigrant force plays in the establishment of new laws for the Qatar and UAE society, as well as the political regulations which the existing immigrant force bends in the UAE and Qatar.
It is quite impressive that the given paper summarizes the effect of the Qatar and UAE immigrant force on not only the legislative and the social life of the local residents, but also on such aspects as globalization and national identity, the labor markets and the state’s politics, etc.
While the paper by Mednicof allows to consider the effects of the immigrant culture on the one of the Arabian states, and, therefore, provides a broader vision of the situation, it also manages to nail down the specifics of the UAE and Qatar comparative politics towards immigrants.
Literature Analysis and Conclusions: The Essentials
The key idea which the given paper aims at proving is the fact that because of the discrepancies in the current politics of the Gulf countries towards immigrants, the Qatar and UAE officials are most likely to come up with the solutions which can be defined as informal instead of making sure that the government should come up with specific laws to regulate the existing complexities concerning the immigrants.
As a result of long and scrupulous observations which are carried out in the process of globalization and controlled by both those in power and the citizens of the countries, the leaders of UAE and Qatar do everything possible to both show their loyalty to the customs and traditions of the local people and at the same time come up with the solutions which can be supported by the international standards of immigration laws (Commins 299).
Therefore, it is quite understandable that the immigration standards which are commonly accepted in the UAE and Qatar do not correspond with the ones of the people of the European countries; one of the most graphic examples of the inconsistencies between the Asian immigrant laws and the European ones is the concern about the human rights for the immigrant workers, which is a commonly accepted idea in the European states and which is, unfortunately enough, not such common practice in the Asian countries (Oxford Business Group 300).
It is also reasonable to mention that within the GCC in general and UAE and Qatar in particular, a peculiar phenomenon can be observed. While the GCC countries seem to have been following the ideas of the global law and have changed their laws correspondingly so that they could be more in line with the ones adopted at the global stage (Ahmad 112), in the UAE and Qatar, the laws have been changed so that the rights of the immigrant workers would not be infringed anymore; hence, the changes within the UAE and Qatar were more particular and were aimed at solving a certain problem, while in the rest of the GCC states, the change of law looked more like a compromise between the Arabian and the European laws.
Nevertheless, it seems that the situation in Doha contradicts the existing laws on immigration and conflicts with the general idea of the rights of immigrant workers, which means that the state can be sued for a public offense (United Nations). All in all, it appears that Dubai follows the traditional European pattern much closer than Doha does, which poses a serious threat to the reputation of Doha among the rest of the countries, as well as among the states of the GCC.
Analyzing the above-mentioned situation, it is necessary to admit that there have been a number of premises to lead to the existing differences between the policies towards immigrants within Doha and the ones that are provided in Dubai. The first and the foremost one to be mentioned is the difference in the state of economy within each of the countries.
While the economy of Dubai suffered greatly as a result of the 2008 crisis, Doha was not influenced by the crisis that much (Zufle 5), which made the latter considerably less dependent on the European countries and, therefore, more prone to the impact of the latter. In addition, the fact that the UAE are trying to play the role of a more cosmopolitan and open to reforms place; hence comes the argument that Dubai should follow the rules which the European countries set.
Another reason which makes the Dubai officials less reluctant towards the changes on the immigrant policies is that UAE thrives on tourism and, therefore, keeping in pace with Europe, which most of the tourists came from, was rather profitable (Tillery). In addition, the oil issues are also to be brought up as the ultimate factor that made the UAE choose in favor of more western type of regulations.
According to the statistical data, Dubai’s natural resources are rather scanty, apart from oil, which makes a good case for establishing trade relationships with the rest of the states, while Qatar has been striving on its plentiful resources for quite long, thus, managing to stay quite independent from the European influence.
Hence, it is crucial for Dubai at present that the experience with immigrants should turn out successful and that the rights of the immigrant workers should correspond to the standards of the European countries. To retain its reputation among the rest of the states, the UAE will have to offer the immigrated workforce the same rights and freedoms which the latter can enjoy in any of the European countries; thus, the UAE will be able to become a full-fledged partner of Europe when it comes to trade and other related business issues.
Works Cited
Ahmad, Ehtisham. Fiscal Reforms in the Middle East: Vat in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Cheltenham, UK: Edwar Elgar Publishing, 2010. Print.
Commins, David. The Gulf States: A Modern History. New York City, NY: IB Tauris, 2012. Print.
Facts on File. Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print.
Khatri, Sridhar K. 2007, Labour migration, employment and poverty alleviation in South Asia. Web.
United Nations. Report of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families: Fifth Session (30 October – 3 November 2006), Sixth Session (23-27 April 2007). Geneva, SW: United Nations Publications, 2007. Print.
Zufle, Nataly. The Doha Agreement for Lebanon: Analysis of a Negotiation Situation from Contemporary International Relations. New York, NY: GRIN Verlag, 2011. Print.
Unemployment has thrust itself as a serious socio-economic concern that has left many public policy makers scratching their heads for lack of a better approach to this societal menace. Unemployment exhibits itself when a person qualified and available seeks work but cannot find it. The extent of unemployment is measured as a fraction of those in the labour force. The world over, unemployment has posed serious challenges for governments. With rising labor costs and general economic slowdown, many countries have grappled with this socio-economic problem albeit unsuccessfully. Unemployment has created a string of other setbacks that include poverty, mushrooming of slum settlements, and high morbidity rates the world over. Current figures put the world unemployment rate at 30% for non industrialized nations and 4-12% in developed countries. On an individual country basis, Nauru leads the pack of the unemployed with 90% of her population without jobs (Meares, 1996).
Socially the youth have been most affected and with an increasing number of them still jobless, there is a growing concern by governments as to the future of this supposedly promising population. For majority of youths, it is gloom as many do not find jobs as they grow older or finish their education. In Africa, youth unemployment stands at 21% which overlaps the world’s average of 14.4%. The stratified population alludes to a rate of 18.4% for young women and 23.1% for young men. The case for women is strengthened by cultural norms toward employment and a dearth of icons to motivate the young women to strive for higher than the profession of house-help. With access to education skewed in most parts of the continent in favor of boys, efforts to join the labor market become an arduous task for the young womenfolk.
Cases of youth unemployment in Africa is exacerbated by dismal growth in economies in many parts of the continent coupled with other social problems live poverty and disease. With a large population to take care of the market for labour is overstretched from Johannesburg to Tangiers and cannot accommodate the influx of young job seekers leading to shortage or in some cases the total lack of employment for the educated and able population. Education too has a role to play in worsening the situation. The quality of education in many African states is wanting with students getting equipped with skills that are out of touch with the requirements of the job market. The curricula used do not churn graduates with the necessary skills to match the jobs they intend to take up. HIV also worsens the situation as it lowers productivity and life expectancy of many of the youth in Africa (Du Toit, 2003).
The effects of unemployment are both social as well as economic. The jobless youth are forced to fend for themselves through alternative means including the informal sector and in severe cases prostitution and criminal activity. With rising migration to the urban areas, youth in the urban areas find considerable competition worsening their situation and prospects. The effects on the economy are far reaching as far as output is concerned. Unemployment leads to wastage of labor and this leads to the economy operating at less than capacity. The economy thus experiences a fall in production of goods and services. Tax revenues that could accrue from incomes of the working population are lost. This leads to a shrunken tax base and lowers the sources of revenue for governments putting the lives of many public projects at risk due to lack of finances. With high unemployment come high crime rates. This is due to the fact that survival tactics have to be improvised by the unemployed youth in order to stay alive. In South Africa high crime rates have discouraged investment in the country. Besides, research shows that an increase in the ratio of young 15-29 year olds to 30-54 year olds by one percent predisposes the society to 7% risk of increased conflicts and social unrests. The 15-29 year olds are considered impatient, intolerant and temperamental. With access to education crime and other forms of social deviance can be reduced considerably. Any government could benefit from this pool of unemployed population (Du Toit, 2003).
With reforms geared to correcting the state of youth population in Africa, many governments can come up with policies to address the situation and reap maximum benefits from the untapped talents of the unemployed youth. Drafting of public policies that focus on the youth unemployment crisis could be a strategy in reversing the negative trends. Placing special attention to youth policies with regard to national employment, youth centered public expenditure and job creation in the rural and urban population can pave the way to an improved unemployment status in the society. Public-private sector partnerships could be of great help in trying to harmonize the syllabi and smoothen the transition from education into the job industry. Young people should also be included in decision making to prevent them from feeling alienated in drafting policies aimed at uplifting their standards of living. The hopes of jobless youth are shattered by the size of the labor market compared to the number of youths unemployed. Due to lack of skills and the required experience, the youth fail to secure employment despite education. Without formal employment the youth are left to eke a living from the informal sector with limited or no legal protection and meager pay. These low paying jobs carry long hours of work and require no special skills to enter. They include hawking, making handicrafts, car wash. With the unbalance in the employment opportunities, young men constantly face hurdles in trying to secure jobs (Annan, 2002).
Many young people have felt discouraged by the lack of employment opportunities and quit searching or left the mainstream workforce altogether. A study done in South Africa came up with grim statistics, 39% of the jobless youth have thought about quitting the entire job search. With close to 47.1% giving up due to lack of opportunities in their precincts, 23.5% complained of lack of transportation to look for jobs. With rising figures of unemployment in the urban areas compared to the rural areas, the paradox of urbanization becomes evident. In comparison the rural Africa is agriculture intensive and experiences lower levels of unemployment as the population practices farming of sorts. Lower levels of productivity however lead to lower pay hence higher underemployment. Rural to urban migration is continuing to pose a serious threat to resource utilization as many young people feel the jobs are only available in the urban centers. This creates a pressure on already worse case of urban unemployment (UN, 2003). It is a fact though, that rural to urban migration is as a result of other hosts of reasons not related to employment.
Poor economic growth and limited resources in education, health and finance worsens the state of unemployment in Africa. With less than average economic performance availability of resources is hampered. These socioeconomic resources face competition from the ever growing population leading to a cycle of more and more unemployment. Inadequate aggregate demand to sustain the economy, poor skills among the young population and the size of the labour force that comprises the youth are cited are the major causes of unemployment (Blanchflower & Freeman, 1999).
In trying to understand the demographic factors affecting the rate of unemployment in Africa, serious attention should be given to the sub Saharan region. There is a projected increase in the youth labor force more than any part of the world. Fertility rates are falling at much lower rate than the rest of Africa. This implies that the young population is experiencing an increase not sustainable by the current employment levels.
These trends have a serious consequence to the society and in particular, the young population. In Africa the absence of employment opportunities and the threat of a gloomy future has led to the increase in deviance and marginalization of the youth from the labor market. With an increase in deviant behavior, crime rates follow suit. In Africa, close to 70 deaths per 100000 people die from violence (WHO, 2004). Gangs comprising of young people terrorize people to meet their economic and social needs. Throw in firearms and the result is havoc. The proliferation of small arms and the incessant wars in the great lakes region of Africa is a testimony to this. In these countries child soldiers execute and plunder with neither conscience nor remorse. In Nairobi, a survey puts the most common offences as theft, assault and drug possession (UN-HABITAT, 2004).
Unemployment has led to the expansion of prostitution business in Africa. With lack of a regular income, many young ladies turn to commercial sex business to support themselves. The influx of tourists from all over the world has made this industry flourish and even evolve into more sophisticated sex tourism (Meares, 1996). Prostitution has made things worse accelerating the spread of venereal diseases and HIV.
All these woes attributable to unemployment need urgent measures if the young population of Africa is to be saved from further morass.
References
Annan, Koffi. (2002). “Child Abuse, Labor and Slavery.” Speech at the International Summit on Human Trafficking, Abuja.
Blanchflower, D., and R.B. Freeman. (1999). Youth Employment and Joblessness in Advanced Countries. NBER Comparative Labor Markets Series. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press. Chicago.
Du Toit, R. (2003). “Unemployed Youth in South Africa: The Distressed Generation?” Paper presented at the Minnesota International Counseling Institute, Minneapolis.
Meares, R.( 1996). “Child-Sex Tourism May Turn to Africa.” Reuters, 1996. Johannesburg.
UN (United Nations). (1996). “Impact of Armed Conflict on Children.” Note by the Secretary-General. Document A/51/150. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York.
UN-HABITAT (United Nations Human Settlements Programme). (2004a). “The State of the World’s Cities 2004/2005: Globalization and Urban Culture.” Nairobi.
The issue of employment has grown in significance in almost every modern community. The unemployment rate represents problems of social and economic character. The issue of job opportunities is especially prominent in developing countries such as Jamaica. The country has suffered from this issue for a long period, especially during the pandemic, since the country’s economy is highly dependent on the service sector of tourism. Although a recent positive trend in decreasing levels of joblessness is apparent as the country revitalizes its main source of income, the problem of the high level of unemployment among youth is persistent. There are three factors that contribute to the negative trend such as inability of the government to provide jobs, low education quality, proliferation of NEET lifestyle.
Recent employment figures are consistent with other signs suggesting the Jamaican economy is beginning to recover from the severe downturn brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, in October 2021, the employment shortage rate in the nation hit a historic low of 7.1% (McIntosh). However, youth joblessness remains substantially high, at 18.9% (McIntosh). The figure has decreased from 21% before the epidemic and is much lower than its peak of 30.3% in July 2020 (McIntosh). Nevertheless, this problem causes mass migration of youth, a problem that successive administrations have been unable to overcome, which forces continuation of the trend.
There are two primary kinds of variables that explain the persistence and intensification of issues. Caribbean adolescents experience regional labor markets. There are supply-side issues on the one hand. Inadequate education, lack of proper training in terms of training, relevance to current technologies, very high occupational and salary goals, lack of job experience, and incorrect attitudes were cited as factors for youth joblessness (Lőrinc et al. 415). In other words, a portion of the reason for the issue may lie with the kids, their families, and the educational institutions tasked with preparing them for the workforce. Insofar as this is accurate, a substantial portion of young jobless people might be categorized as structural in character and could be addressed by changes in mindset and access to training. However, there are also demand-side considerations despite the fact that the inability of the economy to provide adequate jobs, particularly in desired regions, maybe a key cause of young unemployment.
Access to higher education, job training, and work experience serve as steppingstones for social and economic development on a global scale. In many developing nations, however, considerable segments of the population, particularly young and economically disadvantaged individuals, are not engaged in education, work, or training and are known as NEET youth (Hull et al. 299-300). Young disengagement is a global problem that is of significant concern in the Caribbean, where youth unemployment is double the national average (Hull et al. 300). Countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Trinidad & Tobago are disproportionately affected by the high number of NEETs (Hull et al. 300). Several significant elements have been identified as determinants of the life outcomes of such youth. Two of these causes are low educational attainment and difficulties in the family situation (Hull et al. 300). Socioeconomic background and family support provide the groundwork for a child’s future development in life (Hull et al. 301). Given the lack of interventions, the projected developmental trajectory of kids who are not in school, work, or training is grim.
In conclusion, despite the decreasing unemployment rate in the country related to the overall stabilization of the national economy, the main issue of youth unemployment remains persistently high. It is related to the high proportion of disengaged youth, low quality, and low access to proper education among the young population. Consequently, governmental interventions targeting training, motivation, and increasing self-efficacy among youth are required.
Works Cited
Hull, Darrell M., et al. “Positive youth development in Jamaica: Latent growth of self-efficacy and youth assets.” Handbook of Positive Youth Development, edited by Dimitrova R. and Wiium N., Springer, Cham, 2021, pp. 299-313.
Lőrinc, Magdolna, et al. “De-individualising the ‘NEET problem’: An ecological systems analysis.” European Educational Research Journal vol. 19, no. 5, 2020, pp. 412-427.
Despite the low unemployment rate in the U.S, Black Americans are twice susceptible to unemployment compared to white Americans. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recorded a 7.1% unemployment rate of African Americans compared to the national average of 4.2% (BLS, 2022). Racism and inequality in education in the U.S causes structural, cyclical, and frictional unemployment. Structural racism in education has disadvantaged Black Americans by offering them lower levers of education resulting in a higher unemployment rate as compared to the other races.
Systemic racism in the U.S. is the primary cause of the unemployment gap. Even with compatible qualifications, black workers are less likely to be employed than white workers causing structural unemployment. According to Montenovo et al. (2020), the majority of the job placements in the U.S are still filled through referrals without classified advertisements disadvantaging the blacks since most employers are whites. Racial divides in the U.S. and poor policies hinder equal and fair employment opportunities.
Compared to white Americans, African Americans have a relatively low rate of education in the U.S. High dropout rates by African Americans, the exorbitant cost of education, and poor performance in public institutions compared to private schools contribute mainly to the education gap. Education is directly consistent with the employment status, especially for high-skill jobs causing structural unemployment (Gezici & Ozay, 2020). The majority of the black labor force is restricted to low-skill jobs, mainly affected by cyclical and frictional unemployment.
The education disparities mean that African Americans have lower chances of getting jobs and the opportunities available to them are mainly in the blue-collar sectors. Differences in the labor market across racial ethnicity are attributable to racism and low education for African Americans. Racial profiling, the unequal opportunity to education, and lack of policy to curb referral employment. More aggressive legislative policies and action are required to combat systematic racism and educational mismatch to bridge the unemployment gap between black and white Americans.
Gezici, A., & Ozay, O. (2020). An intersectional analysis of COVID-19 unemployment. Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, 3(4), 270-281.
Montenovo, L., Jiang, X., Rojas, F. L., Schmutte, I. M., Simon, K. I., Weinberg, B. A., & Wing, C. (2020). Determinants of disparities in COVID-19 job losses (No. w27132). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Figure 1. Percentage of Unemployed Labour Force across Sydney’s Suburbs, 2006.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006
Figure 2. Percentage of people who do not speak English well or not at all, across Sydney’s suburbs, 2006.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006
Figure 3. Low-income households across Sydney’s Suburbs, 2006.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006
The similarities and differences in the spatial pattern of the maps to the map of unemployment
Map 1: Percentage of people who do not speak English well or not at all, across Sydney’s suburbs, 2006.
There are similarities in the spatial patterns; in particular, the areas with high unemployment levels overlap with those regions populated by people who do not speak English well. For instance, one can speak about Canterbury Bankstown, Outer West and South West. In turn, the regions with the lowest unemployment are inhabited by people who speak English well. For instance, it is possible to mention Upper North Shore or Lower North Shore.
The similarity in the spatial patterns can be partly explained by the fact that people who do not speak English well, find it difficult to secure employment.
Map 2: Low-income households across Sydney’s Suburbs, 2006
Overall, the areas with the lowest household income and highest unemployment overlap. In this case, it is possible to speak about Canterbury Bankstown or Outer West. In contrast, such areas as North West Sydney or Upper North Shore that have the lowest level of unemployment and the highest level of household income.
The maps share a similar pattern because unemployment in a certain area usually reduces the income of households.
The changes have taken place in the economy that has generated unevenness in socio-economic opportunities
These maps illustrate marked inequalities in the economic development of different Sydney suburbs. To a great extent, this phenomenon can be explained by the trends that emerged at the beginning of the previous decade. In particular, one should speak about the growth of the new economy in Sydney. This economy is dominated primarily by various service industries. It should be kept in mind that these areas are concentrated mostly in the northern parts of the city (Randolph & Hollowey 2005, p. 54). Much attention should also be paid to the so-called Global Arc or a region with the highest concentration of knowledge jobs (Randolph & Hollowey 2005, p. 54). For instance, one can speak about such areas as financial services industry, IT companies, and other economic sectors that require good education. This is one of the points that can be made. Furthermore, it is important to remember about such a trend as deindustrialisation that affected many areas of Sydney, including those ones with the highest level of unemployment. Thus, people living in different areas of Sydney may not have the same opportunities. For instance, one can speak about Bankstown (Randolph & Hollowey 2005, p. 54). Thus, one can speak about the polarisation of economic development.
Admittedly, economic transformation is not the only factor that should be considered because continued immigration also forms the patterns of unemployment (Randolph & Hollowey 2005; Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006). One of the maps that have been examined shows that some areas of Sydney are inhabited by people who do speak English well (Price 2008, p. 94). So, it is possible to conjecture that these people are immigrants. Many of these individuals cannot find employment due to linguistic barriers. Moreover, some of them may lack educational qualifications. Their living conditions can be worsened by the deindustrialisation and decline of manufacturing enterprises that do not always require skilled workers. This is one of the details that should not be overlooked.
Nevertheless, one cannot tell that the spatial patterns of unemployment will become entrenched. First, it is possible that the government may invest capital in the development of those areas which are currently disadvantaged. Additionally, the children of immigrants may have more opportunities for integrating into the economic life of Sydney. Thus, unemployment trends that have been identified may not persist in the future. In this case, the outcome depends strongly depends on the policies of the government. These are the main arguments that can be put forward.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006, Sydney: A Social Atlas, ABC, Sydney.
Price, M 2008, Migrants to the Metropolis: The Rise of Immigrant Gateway Cities, Syracuse University Press, New York.
Randolph, B & Hollowey, D 2005, ‘The Suburbanization of Disadvantage in Sydney: New Problems, New Policies’, Opolis: An International Journal of Suburban and Metropolitan Studies, vol. 1 no. 1, pp. 49-65.
One of the critical problems many American residents face during their middle adulthood ages is unemployment or underemployment. While the first concept is clear, the latter is defined by the textbook as being overqualified for the current job or unable to find a full-time position (Kraynok et al., 2017). It has been proven to affect an individual’s overall well-being, increasing the rates of suicides, mental illnesses, and alcohol abuse. This problem has been significantly aggravated by the on-going pandemic, which has resulted in a dramatic shrinking of the global economy. Among the various measures, the U.S. government implemented in March a historic stimulus package providing the unemployed with “an extra $600 a week on top of their state benefits” (Luhby, 2020). This decision became a major step in relieving the social strain and allowing millions of people to survive the economic hardships caused by the imposed restrictions
Unemployment causes and effects are vital to recognize in order to solve the problem. Analyzing them can also allow people to realize what consequences are to expect. Yet, first of all, all the essential terminology should be defined.
Unemployment refers to a state of not having a job. It entails individuals with the ability to work, a resolve to find employment, available and in the hunt for employment (Stone 25). Categories of unemployment include classical, structural, frictional, cyclical, and hidden types.
Classical unemployment entails a situation in which earnings received for a job go beyond ordinary levels. This results in limited job vacancies for people. The structural type refers to a situation in which unemployed individuals fail to meet job requirements in terms of skills needed (Stone 29). Frictional unemployment concerns the changeover phase between jobs, while the cyclical one refers to a state in which claims in the economy fail to offer jobs to people. When the claim for goods and services lowers, there is a limited production that requires few workers (Stone 29). Finally, the hidden type refers to the unemployment of prospective workers due to errors made in generating statistics on the subject (Stone 30).
The causes and effects of unemployment impact individuals, society and the economy in general. The overall problem issue results from various factors relating to social, economic, environmental, political and individual elements in an economy. So, to gather both consequences and causes of unemployment, this essay attempts to consider and analyze them separately.
Causes of Unemployment
Unemployment results from several causes and factors related to an economy. Some causes are due to personal choices while others are beyond individual control (Stone 31). People invest many resources in gaining reputable education and eligibility for jobs, but often find themselves with no employment (Stone 34). Unemployment results from factors and causes discussed below.
The first cause is inflation. Inflation refers to the progressive increase in prices of commodities and services in the economy. Economic inflation is one of the major causes of unemployment (Stone 37). Inflation results in a limited market activity by economies that cannot match efforts by others due to escalating prices. The economy experiences trouble, and progressively employers fire some workers to reduce the cost of production. This result in unemployment among the individuals fired.
The second cause is recession. Recession refers to decline Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of an economy, employment rate and market activity (Dawson 75). Economic recession links directly with economic inflation. Recession results from inflation where people are not able to afford goods and services offered by the economy (Stone 41).
A decline in production and more imports than exports characterize a recession. These elements influence negatively on GDP of an economy. This results in increased rates of unemployment because many employers refuse to hire while others fire some of their employees (Stone 43).
Another cause is change in technology. Rapid change in technology is driving many employers into diversifying and improving the effectiveness of their workforce (Dawson 78). Some of technology applied replaces individuals in the production process as some process executed manually apply through technology.
This leads to several people losing their jobs. Job dissatisfaction is also another leading cause of unemployment (Dawson 78). New technology results in some employees being involved partially in production activities, which leads to frustration. Frustrations may lead to employee resignation (Dawson 80). This causes unemployment.
Another cause is employee worth (Dawson 85). Employees put a lot of effort and dedication in their activities but often end up unappreciated by their employers. This may result to lack of motivation among employees, which may compel them to stop working for their employers (Dawson 85).
This leads to individuals being unemployed until they find employers who appreciate their efforts. Discrimination in places of work is another cause of unemployment. Discrimination could be because of age, gender, social class, race, religion or ethnic background. Securing a job in such a working environment is extremely difficult and may discourage people from looking for jobs as well as forcing those already in jobs to quit (Dawson 87).
Other causes of unemployment relate to an individual and include disability, attitude towards potential employers, negative perceptions about jobs and employees as well as an individual’s ability to look for a job (Dawson 93). Welfare payments should be discouraged as they reduce the will of unemployed people to look for jobs. People develop dependency on grants and lack any meaning in employment since they are able to meet their basic needs (Dawson 98).
Effects of Unemployment
Unemployment has both positive and negative effects. However, negative effects of unemployment surpass positive effects (Stone 65). Unemployed individuals experience difficulties meeting their basic needs as well as contributing to economic prosperity of their countries (Stone 66). In recessions, many people lose their jobs, but companies usually develop mechanisms to produce more goods with limited workforce. Unemployment leads to effects discussed below.
The first effect is loss of income. Unemployment results in individuals losing their source of income and livelihood. Most people in employment use their incomes to get mortgages and other forms of financing (Stone 69). Loss of income leads to poor living standards and increased risk on health.
Another effect of unemployment is social exclusion. A work place provides a platform for socialization. When people lose their jobs, their social circle reduces considerably and end up excluded from the social environment. Other social problems associated with unemployment include crime, bribery and gambling (Stone 70).
Unemployment causes political instability (Stone 75). When majority of a country’s population is unemployed, life becomes hard, and people develop hostile characters. They consider their government as ineffective and incapable of providing the needs of its people (Stone 76). Such individuals participate in movements that oppose government policies through riots that result in political instability.
effects of unemployment include over exploitation of available labor, reduced rate of economic growth, reduced human capacity, loss of human resources and increase in poverty levels (Dawson 101). One positive effect of unemployment is the availability of adequate labor at reduced market prices. When many people are unemployed, labor is available at competitive prices because people are always eager to have some income (Stone 80).
Conclusion
Unemployment has various categories that include classical, structural, frictional, cyclical and hidden unemployment (Stone 26). Unemployment results from several factors that vary in terms of the supporting conditions. Some causes are due to personal choices while others are beyond individual control. Unemployment has both positive and negative effects, although negative effects surpass positive effects. Welfare payments should be discouraged as they reduce the will of unemployed people to look for jobs (Stone 50).
People should be encouraged to look for a job instead of waiting on grants because they may not achieve financial freedom to satisfactory levels. In order to reduce the effects of unemployment, governments should develop and implement policies that regulate circumstances in which an employer can fire an employee (Dawson 90). This will prevent victimization of employees by employers who take advantage of weak policies on labor regulation and employee protection.
Works Cited
Dawson, Graham. Inflation and Unemployment: Causes, Consequences and Cures. California: University of California, 2008. Print.
Stone, Jack. Unemployment: The Shocking Truth of Its Causes, Its Outrageous Consequences and What Can Be Done About It. New York: Trafford on Demand Pub, 2007. Print.
Description of the Problem that Necessitated the Policy
Unemployment was seen by many policymakers as a unique challenge that affected the lives of many people. After the Great Depression, during the second quarter of the 20th century, the American government signed the famous Social Security Act. The new law contained specific provisions for social welfare, unemployment, and age insurance. The landmark law played a major role in minimizing the major issues that affected many unemployed members of the community (Michaillat, 2012). Despite some of the efforts embraced by different communities, the issue of unemployment has continued to affect the welfare of many citizens in the country.
The current problem of unemployment is widespread in the country. Unemployment has remained one of the social challenges affecting the American population for very many decades. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate in the United States stands at 4.9 percent. This means that over 7.8 million people in the country do not have jobs. The social problem has been observed to affect specific minority groups, such as Hispanics and African Americans (Wong & Klawitter, 2014). Many American women tend to be affected the most by this social issue.
The problem of unemployment is characterized by a number of contributing factors or causes. The first unique cause is the economic status of the country. The decision to outsource labor and the requirement of skilled professionals makes it hard for many people to get new jobs in the country. The issue of discrimination explains why more people from minority racial groups are unemployed in the country (Absar, Bui, & Young, 2013). Lack of adequate education and skills is another reason why many people are unemployed. Homeless persons, ex-prisoners, and individuals with mental conditions find it hard to get sustainable jobs.
Many people in the United States are widely affected by the problem of unemployment. As mentioned earlier, many African Americans and Hispanics find it hard to be employed (Absar et al., 2013). Women are also unable to get good jobs are expected to support their children. Families headed by single parents encounter numerous problems such as poverty and lack of adequate health services. The elderly cannot get jobs because of age and lack of advanced skills. This analysis shows clearly that diversity and gender issues dictate the nature of this problem. Young people and the elderly face similar obstacles. The employed members of minority groups tend to get meager incomes (Wong & Klawitter, 2014). More citizens living in ghettos and rural regions are also affected by this problem.
History of the Policy
By the year 1937, all the states in the country had enacted new laws to support the diverse needs of unemployed citizens. These laws were catalyzed by the Social Security Act of 1935. The ultimate goal of such laws was to ensure more unemployed citizens in the United States were supported by the state governments. This move played a positive role in empowering the members of the population. Consequently, the movie was embraced in an attempt to deal with various challenges, such as homelessness, poverty, and inequality (Absar et al., 2013).
Within the past six decades, new changes have characterized the unemployment insurance program. Such changes have been aimed at supporting the needs of more people and eventually address the challenges affecting them. The policy has been focusing on better programs and initiatives to empower more citizens. New amendments “such as illegibility and methods of delivery have been suggested to improve the unemployment insurance policy” (Wong & Klawitter, 2014, p. 6). Past studies have shown clearly that some of the attempts to deal with unemployment in the country have been successful. This is the case because the government has been on the frontline to support the program. However, experts believe strongly that the policy has been unsuccessful because poverty and homelessness are unique problems affecting the American population. This means that new considerations and amendments are needed to support the needs of more unemployed citizens.
Policy Description
The unemployment insurance policy is one of the landmark programs aimed at supporting the needs of more citizens in the country. The program is supported by the government every year. The financial resources provided by the government are available to unemployed members of society. The program supports 85 percent of the country’s population. However, unemployment insurance does not cover self-employed citizens, domestic workers, and farmers (Michaillat, 2012). Individuals legible for these unemployment benefits have to fulfill specific requirements.
The policy provides unemployment benefits in terms of monies. Such finances can be used by the recipients to pursue their personal needs. Beneficiaries can receive between 130 and 5,500 dollars, depending on their needs (Fabre, Pallage, & Zimmermann, 2014). The money is used to purchase household products and food materials. As mentioned earlier, the individuals supported or covered by the program must be unemployed. The government follows strict eligibility criteria for the program. To begin with, individuals who have worked for several months are not eligible. People who have been fired because of misconduct cannot quality for the benefits. Employees who quit voluntarily are not included in the program. Individuals receiving training programs are excluded from employment benefits. This means that “more citizens who qualify for the benefits should be unemployed and not earning any income” (Fabre et al., 2014, p. 12). This fact explains why self-employed persons and farmers do not receive such benefits.
In order to implement the policy successfully, different states have designed unique strategies to support the needs of unemployed citizens (Fabre et al., 2014). However, it is agreeable that the program is governed and guided by the federal government. The states liaise with different employers in order to support the program. The federal government also supports specific programs in order to support more unemployed people in the country. These programs focus on federal employees and veterans.
The successful implementation of the program has led to positive results. For instance, veterans and many unemployed citizens have been able to lead better lives. The financial benefits are usually democratic and just. This is the case because individuals who meet the criteria receive the benefits. The other issue is that the policy is consistent with the values of the social work profession. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics outlines the principles, standards, and values that can guide the conduct of social workers. Such codes focus on the best approaches capable of supporting the needs of the targeted members of the community (Michaillat, 2012). People’s rights and outcomes should also be taken seriously by social welfare workers. That being the case, employees involved in the program embrace the core values of the social work profession. The ultimate goal is to support more people and make it easier for them to deal with the challenges affecting them.
The policy is guided by powerful values and standards outlined by the federal government. Issues such as equality are taken seriously during the policy implementation process. A keen analysis of the policy appears to contribute to Saint Leo’s core value of responsible stewardship. Similarly, Saint Leo’s core value of responsible stewardship can guide many social workers. According to this value, social workers can embrace the best initiatives and approaches in order to promote community development.
Resources should be used adequately to support the welfare of the surrounding community (Shaefer, 2010). Saint Leo embraces such initiatives in an attempt to engage in sustainable social welfare practices. Integrity is taken seriously in the learning institution in order to offer exemplary services to different beneficiaries. This discussion shows clearly that the individuals behind the program focus on the best approaches to support the needs of more individuals in society. However, experts have argued that some ethical issues have continued to affect the effectiveness of the program. For instance, citizens from minority communities might be discriminated against whenever trying to receive such benefits. This challenge makes it hard for them to receive the targeted benefits (Shaefer, 2010).
As mentioned earlier, the unemployment insurance program is funded by different employers and the federal government. These funders present adequate financial resources to support the welfare of unemployed American citizens. In terms of administration, the federal and state governments use powerful standards to identify individuals who qualify for the benefits. The next thing is ensuring that the benefits are available to the targeted beneficiaries (Fabre et al., 2014). This strategy has made it easier for more American citizens to realize their potentials.
The federal government monitors and oversees the program. Each state focuses on the best initiatives and action plans in an attempt to support more unemployed persons. Because of such measures and considerations, the policy has continued to support the diverse needs of many people in the country. Although the problems of poverty and homelessness affect many people, the program has delivered positive results that cannot be underestimated (Fabre et al., 2014). Finally, social welfare professionals believe strongly that the policy will exist for the longest time possible. This is the case because the policy supported and funded by the government. Since unemployment continues to affect more people, the program will be used to support their unique social welfare needs.
Feasibility
Many people in the United States have continued to support the unemployment insurance program. The policy has attracted the support of the political class for very many years. Since 1937, the policy has been funded by the federal government, thus making it one of the most sustainable social welfare programs in the United States (Shaefer, 2010). Consequently, the welfare program continues to support the needs of many unemployed people in the country. This fact shows clearly that the policy is politically feasible. The second issue to consider is the opinions presented by different members of the public.
According to these stakeholders, the policy has made it easier for more people to lead better lives despite the issues associated with it. That being the case, more individuals in society are expected to support the policy. The move will make it easier for more unemployed people in the country to realize their potentials and take their children to school. Specific social problems such as poverty and homelessness will be addressed through the use of the unemployment insurance policy. The decision to support the policy will play a positive role in empowering more individuals in different parts of the country.
The second issue to consider is the economic feasibility of this program. For over eight decades, the federal government has collaborated with different employers to fund this social welfare program. This practice has made it easier for more people to deal with the challenges affecting them. The program continues to address the problems associated with joblessness in different parts of the country. Although the same issues affect many societies in the country, the most agreeable fact is that the government will record positive results through the use of this program. The inclusion of more stakeholders and payers in the future will ensure the program is economically feasible.
The current economic performance recorded in the United States will support this social welfare program (Fabre et al., 2014). However, new considerations should be identified in order to ensure the policy supports the greatest number of unemployed persons in the United States. It will also be appropriate for the American government to increase the funds available to unemployed persons in the country. Shaefer (2010) believes that “individuals at risk of different diseases and social problems, the elderly, and minority groups should be targeted by every new program aimed at dealing with various problems” (p. 442). The strategy will play a critical role in addressing most of the challenges affecting the unemployed members of the American community.
Finally, the issue of administration has been taken seriously within the past eight decades. State governments have been hiring the most suitable people to manage the policies. Consequently, more people in the country have benefited significantly from the unemployment insurance program. The states follow the stipulations and standards outlined by the federal government. This strategy has made the program successful. However, some suggestions can be presented in order to ensure the policy supports the needs of more citizens in the country. For instance, social workers can be involved in order to identify more people who qualify for the program.
Such professionals will ensure the finances are available to more underprivileged people in society (Fujita, 2010). The social workers will embrace the best ethical values and principles outlined by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). By so doing, the unemployment insurance program will continue to support the diverse needs of more members in the society. The ideas and recommendations presented by the social workers will encourage the federal government to allocate more funds to the welfare program (Wong & Klawitter, 2014). The approach will empower more members of the community, deal with various social problems, and eventually improve the living standards of more individuals in different communities across the country.
In conclusion, the unemployment insurance policy has supported many people in the country. The policy has tackled the problem and unemployment and the other social issues associated with it. This sustainable policy is expected to deliver positive results in the future. The government should allocate more funds and focus on specific people who need such services the most (Fujita, 2010). This move will address most of the social problems facing many citizens in the United States.
References
Absar, R., Bui, T., & Young, K. (2013). The effect of extending unemployment insurance benefits on state unemployment rates. The Public Purpose, 11(1), 27-47.
Fabre, A., Pallage, S., & Zimmermann, C. (2014). Universal basic income versus unemployment insurance. Working Paper Series, 1(1), 1-24.
Fujita, S. (2010). Economic effects of the unemployment insurance benefit. Business Review, 1(1), 1-19.
Michaillat, P. (2012). Do matching frictions explain unemployment: not in bad times. The American Economic Review, 102(4), 1721-1750.
Shaefer, L. (2010). Identifying key barriers to unemployment insurance for disadvantaged workers in the United States. Journal of Social Policy, 39(1), 439-460.
Wong, E., & Klawitter, M. (2014). Policies targeting low-income workers. Unemployment Insurance Reform, 1(1), 1-8.
