Unemployment

Unemployment means the joblessness of those who are able and willing to work.Unemployment is a serious social problem.The ratio of unemployment is constantly increasing.

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.Friction in this case refers to the unsuitability between the worker and the job available.A worker may give up his old job and try to look for a new one.Sometimes,it takes time to find a new suitable job.This type of unemployment can be reduced somewhat by providing the workers with a variety of suitable jobs.

Seasonal unemployment occurs when industries have a slow season.Ours is an agricultural country.In the crop season,new jobs are created.Particularly in cotton season,cotton factories are run.Then workers are employed there.But when the cotton season is over,the factories are closed and the workers are unemployed.Thus unemployment occurs.

Structural unemployment arises from an imbalance between the kinds of workers wanted and the kinds of workers available.The imbalances may be caused by lack of skills,location,or personal likes or dislikes.New rapid developments are taking place in technology.This necessitates new skilled workers in industries.Thus industries employ new skilled workers.As a result,the old workers who have outdated skills are left without a job.Sometimes,a plant in a declining industry is closed.It throws the workers out of work.Sometimes,a plant is shifted to another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.

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

Unemployment is not a pretty problem in its nature.It is a very grave problem.It hinders the smooth running of a country.Therefore,it should be tackled before it paralyzes the whole structure of society.The following steps can be of tremendous help in this regard.

First,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 decent jobs.They do not accept menial jobs and ,therefore,remain unemployed.The government should introduce such system of education as may produce skilled workers.In this regard,vocational and technical institutes should be opened.Second,new industries should be set up to create more opportunities for employment.Third,steps should be taken to control the population.Fourth,cottage industry should be promoted in towns and villages.If these steps are taken,the problem may be solved.