Social Studies

My
School based Assessment
On

UNEMPLOYMENT

An Analysis and investigation on how does UNEMPLOYMENT affect the residents of

Jericho District, what are the main causes and the possible solutions to solve the problem

Subject: Social Studies

Name: Abigail Taffe
Teacher: Mr. Scott
School: Charlemont High School
Centre #:
Candidate #:
Territory: Jamaica

Year: 2012-2013

Table of Content
Title

Page

Acknowledgement....................................................................................................... I
Introduction................................................................................................................. II

Statement of Problem...................................................................................... 1
Rational............................................................................................................2

Methods of investigation..................................................................................... 3
Instrument used to collect
data.................................................................................................................. 4 -5

Procedures Used to Collect

Data.................................................................................................................. 6
Research questions...................................................................................................... 7
Presentation and Explanation of
Data..................................................................................................................... 8-12
.
Analysis and Interpretation of
data................................................................................ 13-15
Findings.................................................................................................................... 16

Recommendations and
Suggestions............................................................................................................... 17
Implementation......................................................................................................... 18

Glossary..................................................................................................................... 19

Bibliography............................................................................................................. 20

UNEMPLOYMENT

An Analysis and investigation on how does UNEMPLOYMENT affect the residents of

Jericho District, what are the main causes and the possible solutions to solve the problem.

Rationale
I became aware of this problem by observing the teenagers and adult attitude towards
work within the district of Jericho. Although there are many problems, the researcher
however chooses unemployment as it is the main problem affecting the residents of
Jericho.

Methodology

The data was collected by using a questionnaire

Questionnaires were used to find out the number of unemployed residents, the causes
and the effects of unemployment on the residents within the district of Jericho.
Questionnaires were used as it can be completed at a time convenient to the residents and
it was also confidential.

Instrument Used to Collect Data

Questionnaire
1. What is your name

2. How old are you?

18-25
26-33

34-41

42-51

over

3. What do you understand by term unemployment

4. Are you unemployed? Yes

No

5. If yes. What is you reason for being unemployed?

Lack of education
Lack of skills
Lack of work experience
Physical Disability
Lack of job opportunities

6. How are you affected by unemployment?

Cannot afford your basic needs
Cannot pay bills on time
Cannot maintain your household
Any other please specify
7. Do you think the government is doing enough to reduce unemployment in the
community?
Yes

No

8. What do you think can be done to reduce unemployment in the community?

Implement a skill learning workshop in the community

Build a factory near the community

Build a young people center in the community
Government must provide work for residents

9. Do you have any children? Yes

No

10. If yes. How are they affected by your state of unemployment?

Hardly attends school
Lack basic needs
Get involved in delinquent activities
Any other please specify

11. How many times have you tried to seek employment?

Regularly
Rarely
Never

12. What actions have you and other unemployed community members tried to make the
demand for employment effective?

13. What type of unemployment are you affected by?

Frictional
Cyclical
Structural
Voluntary
Seasonal
Any other please specify

Procedure Used to Collect Data

Collection of data procedure; the researcher constructed a questionnaire and distributed it

to Thirty five persons.

There were a total of 35 respondents, it consisted of 18 male and 12 female between the
ages of 18 - 51years.

The sample was randomly selected. The researcher handed the first thirty five persons
that came forward for a questionnaire.
All respondents came from Jericho district.

The questionnaires were handed on 9th November 2010 and were collected 13th
November 2010. The researcher obtained information from the respondents by using both
the questionnaire and research questions. Before the researcher handed out the
questionnaires to the respondents, the researcher asked a total of four questions.

Research Questions
What do you understand from the unemployment?
What causes you to be unemployed?
How does unemployment affect you and your household?
What do you think can be done to reduce unemployment within the community?

Acknowledgement
There are several people who helped me to successfully complete my School Base
Assessment about UEMPLOYMENT. Firstly I would like to thank the citizens of
Jericho District for taking time out to complete the questionnaires given. Secondly I
would like to show gratitude to my parents who supported me financially. Finally I would
like to thank my Teacher for providing me with the necessary resources and guidelines to
complete this S.B.A.

Introduction
This research is about the people of Jericho District which is located in Linstead Saint
Catherine and how unemployment has been affecting them. This includes the causes,
effect and gives suggestions as well as recommendation on unemployment and also how
to reduce the unemployment rate.

II

II

Figure1: Pie Chart showing the types of unemployment that affect the Jericho
unemployed residents

Different types of unemployment

9%
12%

Cyclical Unemployment
Structural Unemployment
Seasonal Unemployment
Frictional Unemployment

6%
8%

The pie chart above showing the different types of unemployment and the amount of
persons that are being affected by each within the district of Jericho.

Figure2: Bar Graph showing the causes of unemployment in the community of Jericho
District

Causes of unemployment
14
12
10
8
6

Number of people

4
2
0
Lack of job
Lack of
opportunities education

Lack of skills Lack of work

experience

Physical
disability

The bar graph is showing the main causes of unemployment among the residents of
Jericho district.

Figure3: Bar Graph showing the effect of unemployment within the community of Jericho
District
10

Effect of unemplyment
14
12
10

Number of Respondents

8
6
4
2
0
Cannot satisfy Lock of funds
basic needs

Cannot
maintain
children

Cannt pay bills

The bar graph is showing the main effect that unemployment have on the residents of
Jericho district.

Figure4: Table below showing suggestions of unemployed community members

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about what can be done to reduce unemployment in the community.

Suggestions
Implement a skill learning workshop in the community
Build a factory near the community

Number people

6
12

Government must provide work for

17

residents
Total

35

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Interpretation of data
FIGURE 1
Based on the data that was collected all of the respondents was affected by
unemployment. It can be seen that a significant figure of the unemployed residents were
being affected by Cyclical Unemployment which was 10 persons, possibly because of the
low demand of goods and services in the economy which forced industries to lower the
number of their employees. , 5 persons were being affected by Seasonal Unemployment,
7 persons were being affected by Structural Unemployment and 8 persons were being
affected by Frictional Unemployment

FIGURE 2
Figure 2 was used to show the causes of unemployment in Jericho District. Figures
showed a significant amount of 12 persons out of the 35 persons were unemployed
because of a lack of opportunity; 8 other persons were unemployed because of a lack of
education; and a figure of 7 persons were unemployed because of a lack of skills. From
the other two figures left one could see that the unemployed persons in Jericho District
are mostly young and middle age persons who are physically unable to work based on the
data collected only 3 persons were disable. Also because of some persons lack work
experience, this amounted to5 persons.

FIGURE 3
Figure 2 was used to illustrate the effect of unemployment towards the unemployed
residents, based on the figures most persons said that they could not satisfy their basic
needs (13 persons), 9 persons said that they lock fund. 7 persons were unable to payoff
their bills, 6 persons were could not maintain their children where school, food and other
necessities were concerned. From figures one could see that a minor amount of the
persons unemployed were parents and a significant amount of the unemployed persons
were worried about their nutrition and the fact that they are unable to pay off their bills
and satisfy their basic needs.

FIGURE 4
The table used, shows the suggestions of the unemployed residents about what can be
done to reduce unemployment in their community. Based on the data collected a
significant amount of 17 persons out of the total of 35 unemployed persons all said that
the government should provide work for the unemployed residents and another 12
persons said that a factory should be built near the community so as to provide work for
the unemployed residents. The other 6 persons responses were based on the
improvement in education and the skills of the unemployed residents.
From the figures based on each suggestion above one could see that most of the
unemployed residents are ready and willing to work but they lack the opportunity of
employment, due to the lacking of Government attention and the lack of job vacancies.

Findings
The survey has revealed a number of deficiencies with respect to unemployment in
Jericho District. These include:

1. Most of the unemployed residents within Jericho district was unable to satisfy
their needs, this amounted to 13 persons.

2. Cyclical Unemployment affected the residents a of Jericho district an an high

level. How ever the residents suggested simple ways that the government can use
to help to reduce the unemployment rate.

3. The main cause of unemployment was because of the lock of job opportunities
both in and out of the community.

RECOMENDATION

In order to meet the need of the unemployed community members one would
recommend that the unemployed residents come together as a body and try to seek
assistance from the government. The unemployed residents must ensure that the
government finds remedies to eliminate each type of unemployment which they are
affected by. In order to reduce general unemployment the government must try to
increase the demand for goods and services which will further on increase the creation of
more jobs.

Reducing structural unemployment is a major problem; however the structurally

unemployed residents can seek assistance from the government to help them to move to
jobs which require skills different from those they have been using in their previous jobs.
However in order to do so the government must implement a retraining centre in or near
the community where the unemployed residents can have easy access to. The retraining
centre must also be able to facilitate other unemployed residents in order for them to
improve and/or gain new skills so that they can be able to acquire jobs. Finding efficient
ways of advertising jobs will help to reduce frictional unemployment in the community.

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Implementation of Strategy
Based on the information collected lack of job vacancies is a major problem. The body
of unemployed residents can protest peacefully by writing petitions to the local
government, which is responsible for their area about their need for employment and how
unemployment has affected their community, also that a major solution would be to build
some kind of factory or industry in or near the community so as to reduce unemployment.

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Unemployment- this can be defined as a situation where an individual is unable to gain

employment although he/she is willing and able to work and is actively searching for a
job.
Cyclical Unemployment- This occurs due to downturns in overall business activity, this

forces employers to fire or layoff workers due to the fall in total demand.
Structural Unemployment- occurs when a labour market is unable to provide jobs for

everyone who wants one because there is a mismatch between the skills of the
unemployed workers and the skills needed for the available jobs.
Seasonal Unemployment- this is an unemployment that exists on a set schedule within

certain industries as a result of fluctuations of the weather and seasons.

Voluntary Unemployment- Someone who quits or is fired because of negligence or

contract violations does not qualify (someone who chooses to be unemployed).

Frictional unemployment- this is the time period between jobs that a worker is
searching for, or transitioning from one job to another. It is sometimes called search
unemployment and can be voluntary based on the circumstances of the unemployed
individual.

Bibliography
Robert, G. Terry, C. Dave, R. Karen, R. and Yvonne, H., Economics for the CSEC,
Cambridge University, 2007.

www.unempolyment.com

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