Problem Statement
Firstly, unemployment can be described as a situation whereby an individual is available for work but is unable to secure any. The rate of unemployment is measured basically by the percentage of the labor force that is unable to get job. This rate varies across the globe from one country/continent to another. America seems to have the lowest rate, followed by Europe, while Africa has the highest rate, “an alarming rate” to be rightly phrased. An unfortunate irony however is the fact that Africa seems to be the most silent on the issue of unemployment.
The recent economic depression has however bestowed this dilemma of unemployment to all nations, thus at present, Africa and the rest of the world now share a common problem. American companies are downsizing, retrenching in mass, churning out people into the already full labor market. Microsoft is said to be retrenching almost three thousand staff, this year. In the United Kingdom, it was reported that the number of the unemployed might rise to as much as three million before their next election.
Recently, it was forecasted that since there had been “thousands of job cuts announced in the wake of the deepening financial crisis, unemployment is expected […] to rise to 3 million,” (Ballakrishnan & Kollewe, 2008). Background of the Problem Unemployment came with the advent of the capitalist society which the world has suddenly embraced. In the pre-capitalist European’s feudalism, the “serfs” were never “unemployed” simply because they were given free access to the land and all the necessary tools; thus, they were able to produce crops (The World Factbook, 2009).
The American frontier of the nineteenth century can be said to be the beginning of unemployment. Subsistence farmers and laborers on poor land are comparable to the present day unemployment situations, while the Great Depression of the 1930s can be traced as the beginning of modern day unemployment. According to Economy Journal: Employment fell by 129,000 in January (-0. 8%), […] pushing the unemployment rate up 0. 6 percentage points to 7. 2%. This drop in employment exceeds any monthly decline during the previous economic downturns of the 1980s and 1990s. (2009)
In Africa, most especially in Nigeria almost 80% of graduates are either underemployed or unemployed. Problem Statement In this study, it is aimed to garner plausible descriptions, explanations, and possible resolutions regarding the situation of unemployment. The main variables to be focused in this study are the drop in employment arte and the economic situation of people. Specifically, this research will answer the following problems: 1. Is there a relationship between the drop in employment rate and the economic downturn of people specifically living in Puerto Rico, California, and Texas?
2. What is the correlation between the drop in employment rate and the economic downturn of the people in the said areas? Is there a pattern between an individual’s dismissal from employment and his/her economic situation? 3. How does the correlation, if any, affect the way of life of these people? Are there negative effects? Are there positive effects? 4. What suggestions and recommendations can possibly reduce, if not totally resolve, the problem on employment drop and economic downturn of the people?
This study will employ both qualitative and quantitative research designs to find out the correlation between the drop in the employment rate and the economic depression, as well as the possible effects that the probable correlation may induce on the part of the people concerned. Problem Design 1 The main variables used in the research are (1) the drop in employment rate, and (2) the economic downturn among the people, specifically those who live in Puerto Rico, California, and Texas. The study will be using a random selection of the samples.
The variables will be measured through a survey among 200 male and female respondents, aged 18 to 50 years who may or may not have necessary educational background. Furthermore, the study will also employ interviews with 15 Human Resources (HR) Managers from both the public and the private sectors. This will hopefully yield information about the dismissals they did for the past two (2) years. The information to be garnered will be useful in finding a possible trend in the unemployment rate among jobseekers.
Lastly, this study will also make use of a review of secondary sources such as Public Financial Statements to verify if the reasons for the dismissals are relevant to their economic situation. Problem Design 2 To find out the relationship between the main variables used in the study, a non-experimental design will be employed among respondents in Puerto Rico, California, and Texas. Specifically, the population will be composed of 150 respondents, 50 from each state.
From the three main groups, subgroups will be formed such that 25 will be composed of females and the other 25 will be males from each state. Also, the significance of educational attainment will be put into perspective in choosing the respondents. Out of the 50 respondents from each state, 25 will be college graduates and 25 will be either undergraduates or did not go to school at all. The age range will be from 18 years to 60 years old. The pattern of their employment will be looked upon based on the measures of educational, gender, age, and geographical attributes.
This will be measured through a one-shot survey that would make the respondents identify their past and present jobs and the job dismissals they have experienced. They will also identify the type of company that they applied and/or worked for. Moreover, the study will also look at the respondents’ economic stability or instability by using focused group discussions (FGDs) among the three groups. Questions will be based on the current mode of living of the respondents and the focus will be more on welfare assessment (Do they meet their primary needs?
What problems regarding the economic aspect do they experience? ) They will also be asked about how they are personally affected by the economic recession, and how does this relate to their current employment or unemployment. Also, they will be asked about suggestions and recommendations of how the problem on unemployment may be reduced. Generally, this research will hopefully induce a qualitative measurement of the correlation between the variables (1) the drop in employment rate, and (2) the economic downturn among the people.
Conclusion Unemployment has a great influence on human beings. It does not only lead to physical redundancy but it also demoralizes the mind and kills one’s morale, which results into despondency, low self-worth, and low self-esteem. Psychologists have confirmed that breadwinners who lose their jobs often end up more inclined to aggression, depression, and/or excessive intake of cigarette, alcohol, and even drugs. Some people even do crime; after all, a popular adage says “the idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
” In Nigeria, crime rate has been proven to be directly proportional to unemployment. Bank raid is on the rise as unemployment increases. Again, there is the issue of the economic loss unemployment brings to the affected nations. The gross domestic product of the country affected reduces drastically and this affects other trading partners of the country, thus spreading economic loss like a virus across the globe. Since it has been established that unemployment is a plague for it has severe effects on the world at present, I believe a thorough and critical attention should be given to it.
An adequate solution would have been devised to either stop or reduce it drastically. Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are popular for their great impact on aiding the affected sectors. Governments, organizations, as well as individuals should all come together and stand against this creeping plague, silently destroying our world. Let professionals come together, pool ideas and resources together to pinpoint the causes of unemployment and devise a solution.
Until a thorough research is carried out, not only to diagnose this dilemma but to find a solution, the world would continue to experience an occasional economic depression, such as in the 1980s, 1990s, and the present. Again the moral decadence will always persist with the world. References Balakrishnan, A. & Kollewe, J. (22 December 2008) From Alistair to zero interest rates: the business year in review. Retrieved March 13, 2009 from http://www. guardian. co. uk/business/2008/dec/22/credit-crunch-business-recession-2008. Economy Journal, 2009. The World Factbook, Rank Order: Unemployment Rate, 2009.
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