Name: Pilay Todd

Subject: Economics
Teacher: Chester
Topic: unemployment

Title: How unemployment levels in the

community impact the standard of
living of its residents.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 1

Title Page
Topic chosen I

Introduction. II

Title of project 1

Research Question 2

Statement of problem 3

Purpose of the project 4

Method of investigation 5

Collection and presentation of data 6-7

Correspondence. 8-13

Presentation of data 14-18

Interpretation and Analysis 19-20

Findings 21

Recommendations 22

Appendix 23

Bibliography 24

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL III

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL I
The researcher has chosen the topic: unemployment to conduct his
Economics SBA for CSEC.
Unemployment in an economy occurs when there are people who are both
willing and able to work but do not have a job.
Prior to the above topic, the researcher based his data on How
unemployment levels in the community impact the standard of living of its
residents. The researcher chose this topic since unemployment has
affected the residents standard of living as claimed by a resident who the
researcher has interviewed.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL II

How unemployment levels in the community impacts the standard of living
of its residents.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 2

 What are the causes of unemployment in the community?

The researcher has observed how unemployment has impacted the

standard of living of the residents in this community. This phenomenon has
been a problem for quite a long while now, hence the researcher has been
a resident of this community for over six years and during the years he has
learned about how unemployment has affected the residents standard of
living in the Stabroek and Kaieteur newspaper. This problem is affecting
the lives of the citizens, if not corrected, the countrys crime rate would
increase.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 3

The topic chosen for research is How unemployment levels in the
community impact the standard of living of its residents. Since
unemployment is a critical problem affecting the citizens of the Kingston
community, the researcher aims to know how unemployment impacts the
citizens standard of living, therefore, the researcher goals are:

To find out what are the causes of unemployment in the community.

To determine the unemployment level and the standard of living of its
residents.
To find out what are the consequences related to unemployment.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 4

Primary sources:
1. Questionnaires:
The researcher will generate his data by using questionnaires to know how
unemployment impacts the residents standard of living. The survey as a
tool for collecting data has some merits, these are:
Can get answers from a lot of people, in a relatively short space of
time.
Everyone answers the same question. Therefore same information is
requested which reduces bias.
Confidentially is guaranteed since respondents are not required to
attach their names.
2. Interview: - the researcher interview Todds family in the community.
3. Observations- the researcher observed his community daily as he
distributed the questionnaires and on an average basis.

Secondary sources
Newspaper- the researcher got information from Stabroek and
chronicles newspaper.
The world wide web

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 5

Unemployment in an economy occurs when there are people who are both
willing and able to work but do not have a job.

The researcher gathered information from the following sources:

Stabroek Newspaper
The Todds family
Kaieteur Newspaper

Stabroek Newspaper
Author: Staff Writer and Staff Editor
Articles: Unemployment in Guyana: numbers, implications,
recommendations and Youth unemployment in Guyana around 40% CDB
Date published: February 21, 2010, and May 22, 2015
Date visited: January 4th, 2017
Unemployment impacts the standard of living of the residents in Kingston,
by numerous reasons, especially youths in particular. Both articles
exclaimed about the unemployment rate in Guyana, which then leaves the
citizens to commit a crime, do drugs and depend on their family assistance.
Thus, resulting in a bad infrastructure and few entrepreneurs, etc.
Guyana is one of the Caribbean states that has a high unemployment rate
among youths, and it has increased by 40% from since 2000. From the
questionnaire in the community, 93% were young people, the article further
stated that the people who are unemployed either lack relevant skills;
experience, knowledge of vacancies etc. ethnicity, gender, stigma and
poverty also contribute to why persons are unemployed.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 6

 The researcher gathered information from The Todds family in the
community. The patriarch Patrick Todd is a (DSP) Police officer at the
Tactical Service Unit. He has served there for the past 25 years and
has been a resident of this community for about five years. For that
short while in the community, he has noticed how unemployment has
impacted the residents of this community.

He exclaimed that unemployment limits the residents spending power

by a decrease in clothing, entertainment, and they are unable to
provide for the family. He has such knowledge of this since many
cases have been reported to him daily about crimes of youths
stealing just to earn a living to provide for their family so that they can
survive.

Kaieteur Newspaper
Section: APNU Column and letter to the editor
Articles: Guyana is sitting on a time bomb of youth unemployment and
Unemployment impacts Guyanese of all ethnicities
Date Published: Sep 01, 2013 and Jun 03, 2011
Date visited: January 4, 2017
Unemployment, especially chronic unemployment, affects the unemployed
in ways other than their pocketbooks. according to
smallbusiness.chron.com. Unemployment affects the unemployed as well
as the employed because the ripple effects influence the overall economy
and the communities where they live. Unemployment is not a stereotyped
ethnic relation as claimed from the article; unemployment affects each and
every ethnic group in Guyana, but one group may be larger unemployed
than the other.
According to Kaieteur News, many youths who are qualified are seeking
jobs in other countries since their homeland (Guyana) doesnt have jobs to
suit their qualification thus the unqualified ones decrease the countrys
infrastructure by criminal activities resulting in few entrepreneurs in certain
communities.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 7

 CORRESPONDENCE

76 Woolford Avenue,
Thomas land
Georgetown.
2nd November 2016

Dear Residents,
This is a survey being carried out in Kingston Georgetown to investigate
on the title how unemployment levels in the community impact the
standard of living of residents. This study is being conducted for CXC
Economics School Based Assessment (SBA) that Im currently pursuing.
You are required to select the answer that appeals to you, hence there is
no wrong or right answers, and No names are required. Therefore no one
will ever know who answered in a particular way.

Place a tick in the box for the optional questions and fill in the blanks
for the open responded to questions.

Thank you
Yours sincerely

Pilay Todd

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 8

 Questionnaire
1. Sex
Male female

2. Age range
Under 18 18-30 30 and over

3. To what ethnic group do you belong?

African decent Chinese decent
Indian decent Portuguese descent
Mixed descent
Others

If others please state _________________________________

4. Marital Status (please check one):

Single (Never Married) Widowed
Partner/ Common-Law Married (Not Separated)
Divorced Separated Married

5. What level of education have you obtained?

Primary secondary tertiary

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 9

6. Current Status?
Employed Unemployed

7. Have you been employed before?

Yes no

8. If no how long have you been unemployed

1 year and under 5 years and more
24 years never

9. Which of the following reasons contributed to you being

unemployed?

Lack of education Lack of expertise

Waiting for results from exams the color of your skin

Applying for jobs without vacancies

Others

If others please state

_________________________________________

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 10

10. Why have you been unsuccessful in finding a job so far?
Please tick all that apply.
There are not enough jobs
There are jobs, but I dont have enough information about
available jobs
I don't have the right skills
I don't have an adequate level of education
I lack experience
I live too far away
Wages are too low

11. Which of the following options, aid in the aspect of you being
unemployed?
Voluntary unemployment
Involuntary unemployment (fired, dismissal, laid-off)
Frictional unemployment (moving from one job to another)
Seasonal unemployment (work available only particular time of
the year)

12. Do you have a part-time job?

Yes no

If yes please describe

__________________________________________

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 11

13. Do you receive unemployment benefits?
Yes No

14. How does unemployment affect/impact your community?

Poor infrastructure
Limits the quality and availability of housing
Crime rate increase

15. How does unemployment limits your spending power?

Reduces entertainment
Shopping for clothing decrease
Cant purchase what you want
Unable to provide for family

16. Does unemployment affect the communitys growth?

Yes No

Please state the reason for your answer

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 12

17. If you cannot find the type of work that you are looking for,
would you settle for other work?
Yes, any work
Yes, but only if the same or higher salary
No

18. What do you think is/are responsible for the unemployment

rate in your community?
Crime rate limited job

Lack of resources few entrepreneur

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 13

Fig.1.
Which of the following reasons contributed to you being unemployed
Responses No. of Percentage
responses
Lack of education 3 20%
Waiting for results from 4 26.6%
exams
Applying for jobs 4 26.6%
without vacancies
Lack of expertise 3 20%
The color of your skin 0 0%
Others 1 6.6%

COLUM GRAPH SHOWING REASONS FOR

UNEMPLOYMENT
Percentage

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%
Lack of Waiting for Applying for Lack of The color of Others
educ a t i o n r es ul t s f r o m j o bs w i t ho ut exper t i s e y o ur s k i n
e xa m vacancies

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 14

Fig.2
Which of the following options, aid in the aspect of you being unemployed?
Responses No. of Percentage
responses
Voluntary 11 73%
unemployment
Involuntary 1 7%
unemployment
Frictional 2 13%
unemployment
Seasonal 1 7%
unemployment

PIE CHART DISPLAYING THE TYPES OF

UNEMPLOYMENT

7%
13%
Voluntary unemployment

7% Involuntary unemployment
Frictional unemployment
Seasonal unemployment
73%

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 15

Fig.3
How unemployment does limits your spending power?
Responses No. of Percentage
responses
Reduces entertainment 1 7%
Shopping for clothing 2 13%
decrease
Cant purchase what 4 27%
you want
Unable to provide for 8 53%
family

LINE GRAPH SHOWING HOW UNEMPLOYMENT

LIMITS THE RESIDENTS SPENDING POWER

4
2
1

REDUCES ENTERTAINMENT SHOPPING FOR CLOTHING CANT PURCHASE WHAT YOU UNABLE TO PROVIDE FOR
DECREASE WANT FAMILY

No. of Responeses

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 16

Fig.4
How does unemployment affect/impact your community?
Responses No. of Percentage
responses
Poor infrastructure 6 40%
Limits the quality and 6 40%
availability of housing
Crime rate increase 3 20%

BAR GRAPH SHOWING HOW UNEMPLOYMENT

AFFECT THE COMMUNITY

CRIME RATE INCREASE 3

LIMITS THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING 6

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE 6

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Poor infrastructure Limits the quality and availability of housing Crime rate increase

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 17

Fig.5
If you cannot find the type of work that you are looking for, would you settle
for other work?
Responses No. of Percentage
responses
Yes, any work 7 47%
Yes, but only if the 5 33%
same or higher salary
No 3 20%

DOUGHNUT CHART ILLUSTRATING IF THE

UNEMPLOYED WOULD SETTLE FOR ANY WORK

20%

47%

33%

Yes, any work Yes, but only if the same or higher salary No

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 18

Investopideia.com defines unemployment as a phenomenon that occurs
when a person who is actively searching for employment is unable to find
work.
From the data collected, the researcher has noticed that 93% of the
residents who are unemployed are young people ranging from under
eighteen to thirty years. 13% of the residents claimed that they were
employed whereas their current position is unemployed. The ingredient that
causes them to be unemployed is Lack of expertise and Lack of education.
While 80% of the residents are unemployed.from the 80%, 53% were
unemployed for one year and under, 2% 2-4 years and 7%, five years and
more thus the other 7% is currently employed but was unemployed one
year and under, because he was waiting for his results from CSEC.

The researcher has been a resident of his community for about five years
and has noticed that the type of unemployment mainly found in his
community is voluntary unemployment. This kind of unemployment is
prevalent when a person is unemployed not due to unavailability of jobs in
the economy, but because of not being able to find employment of his/her
choice. Www.google.com supported this, and it was sustained by 73% of
the residents while the other 27% says involuntary, Frictional and
Seasonal.
The researcher asked the question, Do you receive unemployment
benefits? 87% of the residents said no, while the other 13% claimed yes.
The question was asked, how unemployment affect/impact your
community? the researcher community is affected by crime rate and
poor infrastructure as claimed by 80% of the residents.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 19

Additionally, because of limited job in the community, there is an increase
in crime rate as claimed by 40%, many of the citizens need financial
support and because they are not getting any job, or they dont have the
right skills, experience, or adequate education the only means of surviving
is stealing from others.

In conclusion to this topic, the researcher asked the residents two other
questions do you have a part time job? And how does unemployment limits
your spending power?

The majority of the residents do not have a part-time job as claimed by

80% while 20% have. Due to this fact, Unemployment is affecting the lives
of the residents in this community mentally, physically and psychologically.

As a result of this, many of the residents spending power are reduced since
53% claimed they are unable to provide for their family, 27% cant
purchase what they want, 13% has to decrease their shopping for clothing,
and 7% has to reduce entertainment.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 20

 The researcher found out that most of the residents who are
unemployed are young people ranging from under eighteen to thirty
years. It was also stated that the primary cause of them being
unemployed was applying for jobs without vacancies.

Many of the residents in the community do not receive unemployment

benefits, while few claimed they do.

Voluntary unemployment is said to be the most common type of

unemployment in this community. Since many of the residents either
lack in expertise or education. Therefore, they are unable to find a job
in their field of choice.

The researcher gathered that unemployment limits the residents

spending power by them being unable to provide for their family.

The researcher found out that limited jobs are the cause for the
unemployment rate in the community, thus affecting the communitys
growth.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 21

 The researcher recommends that the government should reduce the
benefits of the unemployed, increase the work benefits, get rid of the
minimum wage and encourage those who are not employed to take
any job.

The government should create more jobs or conduct a survey of the

jobs many persons desire and establish it.

The researcher recommends that commercial banks should give

small loans to individuals who wish to create a small firm or invest in
persons who are desirous to produce something new to the market.

The researcher also recommends that the ministry of education

should educate the illiterate; the dropouts and the delinquents, not
only to reduce crime rates and increase entrepreneurial activities but
to utilize the countrys resources efficiently, boost the economy,
increase the countrys GDP and to take our country from a third
world to a first world.

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 22

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 23
Books/Reference

Economics for CSEC, A CXC Study Guide

Authors: Peter Clavery, Rob Dransfield, Margaret Scott-Thompson

Prentice Hall Economics Principle in Action

Authors: ARTHUR O'SULLIVAN and STEVEN M.SHEFFRIN

Internet
https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/uncategorized/how-do-we-
solve-unemployment
http://www.alternet.org/economy/how-can-we-solve-our-
unemployment-crisis-taking-more-vacation
http://www.economicsdiscussion.net/articles/suggestions-to-
solve-unemployment-problem/2287
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/unemployment.ht
ml
http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2011/06/03/unemployment-
impacts-guyanese-of-all-ethnicities/
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/the-impact-
of-unemployment.asp
http://www.job-interview-site.com/the-effects-of-unemployment-
on-society-and-the-economy.html
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/news/stories/05/22/youth-
unemployment-in-guyana-around-40-cdb/

PILAY TODD| RICHARD ISHMAEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 24