Negative effects of joblessness

Posted by Chidinma on Monday January 19, 2015 at 15:48:3:

Every student in college have this dream of landing a well paying job immediately after graduation; but times, many college graduates remain jobless months or even years after graduation and this can be very frustrating.

The issue of unemployment is a world wide issue and not just for third world countries as most people think; using Nigeria as an instance, there are millions of young people who are willing to work but they are unemployed or jobless, while others are underemployed below their full potentials. This issue of unemployment or joblessness has many negative effects not just on the individual but on the country as a whole.

I will mention some negative effects of joblessness both on individuals and in the country;

1. It increases insecurity: Remember the popular saying that an idle mind is the devil’s work shop; if a person is jobless with nothing positive to channel his or her energy, there is chances that the energy will be channeled into something bad; that is why social vices like robbery, kidnapping, prostitution, killings and general violate are always on the rise in a society with a high rate of unemployment. For instance, most people who engage in civil wars and disorders are unemployed.

2. It doesn't encourage economic growth: A high rate of employment does not help the nation's economy to grow as it results in less productivity which helps contribute to the nation's GDP. If less people were employed that is available, productivity will be low and it will slow or retard economic growth.

3. It reduces the average lifespan: When people are jobless, they are less likely to be able to take care of their health or eat good food that will help them live longer. A society with a high number of unemployed people normally also has a high death rate and hence shorter life span.