Causes and Effects of Unemployment (Research Paper Sample)

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Title: Causes and Effects of Unemployment
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Unemployment is the awful state of lacking a job for one reason, or another. Young people of the current generation have developed the habit of terming employment as living on less than $1 a day. This, however, is not conventionally accepted yet. The distribution of unemployment cuts across the entire globe, from the affluent countries to the poorest of nations. The rate seems to be growing steadily over years, and this calls for a keen research on causes and how to battle the effects of this modern-day monster. By taking a look at the causes, then we can find solutions to the issue. Focusing on the effects of unemployment helps to bring to light what a serious problem it is that affects the human race.
The causes of unemployment are widespread and vary from region to region. One of the main causes is illiteracy. Illiteracy is the reclaimable state of not being able to read or write to an acceptable standard. In some ways, it can be described as insufficiency of education or skills needed for a particular job or task. Illiteracy impairs one’s ability to get a job. Since most job vacancies require certain levels of education, the illiterate are usually left out on the streets. Illiteracy can be attributed to laziness, truancy, improper learning system and poverty among others. Poverty sets in because in most countries basic education is not free and the poor may not be able to raise fees for their children to learn. This leaves the poor with illiterate kids who can barely find a job (Crick, Pg. 65). Improper learning system may fail to equip students with enough skills required for particular jobs rendering them useless in their fields of study.
Another cause of unemployment is technology (Healey, 89). With the advent of new and advanced technology, the prospects of securing a job are slimming. The new trend of using robotic computers in almost every simple task poses a great risk to those learning with the hope of a job. For instance, automated teller machines are being introduced into banking halls threatens the jobs of millions of tellers. Biometrics systems and automated alarm systems are replacing the need for security guards both at offices and homes. Even the simplest of jobs, for example, secretarial jobs are being replaced by computer applications that convert speech to text hence meetings can be virtually recorded.
The number of causes of unemployment may not really matter much because the effects are similar, and most of them are devastating to a nation. The principal effect is poverty (Pigou, 78). When one is unemployed, one lacks a source of income and a means to fend for themselves. This forces most unemployed to seek ‘shelter’ under employed relatives or friends. The splitting of salary reduces the income per person making the provider poor. The unemployed person will be forced to feed on the little that the provider has which is often not enough. Luxuries can no longer be afforded as most of the money is hand-to-mouth. People who once longed for ‘good lives’ are condemned to misery and poverty. Secondly, unemployment causes an increase in crime rate, especially in town and cities. When one is without a job and has no one to depend upon, they resort to crime to make both ends meet. Survival for the fittest applies is much alive here. The unemployed person may plot on how to rob a bank or a wealthy man in a posh car. Theft is the most prevalent of the unemployment related crimes. However, murder may also be committed either in the line of theft or as a result of jealousy and resentment towards the rich employed person. In addition to the crimes is fraud. Those desperately looking for money may have to...