Unemployment

Unemployment means the joblessness of those who are able and willing to work. The proportion of unemployed people displays the index of economic activity. Its ratio shows how human resources are being used. As unemployed people feel deprived and rejected, it becomes a serious social problem. Harry S. Truman, a U.S. president, says: "It is a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it is a depression when you lose yours." Unemployment is not the problem of a particular country; it is always on the increase.

Economists have categorized the causes of unemployment as frictional, seasonal structural, and cyclical. Frictional unemployment arises when workers try to seek such jobs as may fit their ability and taste

Seasonal unemployment occurs when industries have a slow season.

Structural unemployment arises from an imbalance between the kinds of workers wanted, and the types of workers are available.

Cyclical unemployment results from a general lack of demand for labor. When the business cycle turns downward, demand for goods and services drops; the workers are laid off.

Unemployment is not a petty problem in its nature. It is a very grave and knotty problem. It hinders the smooth running of a country. It can cause intractable social issues and massive corruption. Therefore, it should be tackled before it paralyzes the whole structure of society. The following steps may be of tremendous help in this regard.

First of all, the education system should be modified. The present system is producing such educated men as are good for nothing. They are not skilled and technically trained. To make the situation even worse, they expect cushy jobs. They do not accept menial jobs and, therefore, remain unemployed. The government should introduce such a system of education as may produce skilled workers. In this regard, vocational, professional, and technical institutes should be opened.
Second, new industries should be bet up to create more opportunities for employment. New industries would accommodate many workers, especially those who want to work.
Third, the government should help the jobless educated people with substantial debts on easy terms so that they may start their own business
Fourth, steps should be taken to control the population. The significant population is the leading cause of unemployment. To check the birth rate is just like to raise the resources.

Fifth, the cottage industry should be promoted in towns and villages. If these steps are taken, the problem of unemployment may be alleviated.

The imbalances may be caused by a lack of skills, location, or personal likes and dislikes. New rapid developments are taking place in technology. This necessitates new skilled workers in industries. Thus industries employ new workers skilled in the particular event. As a result, the old workers who have outdated skills are left without a job. Sometimes, a plant in a declining industry is closed. It throws the workers out of work. Sometimes, a plant is shifted to another place. The workers who are unable or unwilling to move to the area are left jobless. The workers with inadequate education, skils, or training cannot get jobs.