Scribd
Upload
19 views

Chapter 1

The document is the first chapter of a study investigating the socio-economic effects of youth unemployment in Ghana. It provides background on youth unemployment as a problem in Ghana and other developing nations. The chapter then outlines the study's objectives to determine how unemployment impacts socio-economic life and criminal involvement among Ghana's youth. It establishes research questions and hypotheses to guide the study and acknowledges limitations around scope and resources. Finally, it previews the organization of subsequent chapters that will review literature, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

Uploaded by

richtymar7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
19 views

Chapter 1

The document is the first chapter of a study investigating the socio-economic effects of youth unemployment in Ghana. It provides background on youth unemployment as a problem in Ghana and other developing nations. The chapter then outlines the study's objectives to determine how unemployment impacts socio-economic life and criminal involvement among Ghana's youth. It establishes research questions and hypotheses to guide the study and acknowledges limitations around scope and resources. Finally, it previews the organization of subsequent chapters that will review literature, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

Uploaded by

richtymar7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

CHAPTER ONE

SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECT OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN


GHANA
NAME: SALU ABDUL KARIM
INDEX: 220024259
DEPARTMENT: ECONOMICS
1.0 Background of the study
Unemployment has been categorized as one of the serious impediments to social
progress and development of the Nations world over. Unemployment is a global trend, but it
occurs most in developing countries of the world, with attendant social, economic, political
and psychological consequences (Ayinde, 2008; Emeka, 2011; Chigunta, 2002). Thus,
massive youth unemployment in any country is an indication of far complex problems.
According to International Labor Organization (ILO), the proportions of world
unemployment is steadily increasing and that the number of those without jobs remained at
all time high of more than 23.71 million, or 3.77 percent in 2007. The issue of youths’
unemployment in Ghana has become a national concern as the unemployed youths tend to.
be more anxious, depressed and unhappy with their attendant sleeplessness than those
with
jobs (Samuel, Ofem and Samuel, 2006).
The problem of chronic youth unemployment is very evident in Ghana. Every year
thousands of graduates are turnout for whom there no jobs. Nigerian streets are littered
with
youth hawkers who ordinarily would have found gainful employment in some enterprises
(Echebiri, 2005; Emeka, 2011; Uwoma, 2006). The large number of unemployed youths is
capable of undermining peace as they constitute a serious threat if engaged by political class
for clandestine activities (Adepegba, 2011). Youth unemployment is often considered as a
social problem and is probably the most feared phenomenon of our times that touches all
sspart
of society; ... (Anyaele, 2003). This study intends to investigate the socio-economic effects of
unemployment among youths in Ghana.

Conceptual Framework
There seems to be a consensus among the various stakeholders on the definition of
unemployment. The ILO defines unemployment as defines unemployment as number of the
economically active population who are without work but available for and seeking for,
including people who have lost their jobs and those who have voluntarily left work (World
Bank, 1998). According to Anyaele (2003), unemployment is a situation where some people
who fall within the ages of working population, capable and willing to work are unable to
obtain befitting work to do. The National Bureau of Statistics defines unemployment as the
proportion of the labor force that is available for work but did not work for at least 39 hours
in the week proceeding the survey period (Central Bank of Nigeria Annual Report, 2008).
Abiodun (2010) regards unemployment as the proportion of the labor force, expressed in
percentage, which is not employed at any given point in time.
Unemployment is measured among people in the labor force (Kumasi and Accra),
2001; National Bureau of Statistics, 2010). The labor force of a country as defined by
National Bureau of Statistics (2009) is a set of people or citizens of a country who are willing
and are able to make available at any given point in time their efforts for gainful
employment.
The menace of unemployment has increasingly been recognized as one of the socio-
economic
problems currently facing many developing countries like N and Africa as a whole
(Curtain, 2000; UNOWA, 2006).
Youth unemployment, therefore, could be described as the conglomerate of youths
with diverse background, willing and able to work, but cannot find any. When the supply of
labor outstrips the demand for labor, it causes joblessness and unemployment. Given the
lack
of sufficient employment opportunities in the formal sector, young people may be
compelled
to engage in casual work and other unorthodox livelihood sources, thus leading to
underemployment (Echebiri, 2005; Onah, 2001; Venatus & Agnes 2010). According to
Okonkwo (2005), the negative consequences of youth unemployment include poverty,
psychological problems of frustration, depression, hostility, suspiciousness of people, food
insecurity, all manner of criminal behavior and general insecurity of life and property.
Majority of Ghanians are living under poverty (Omotola, 2008; Aigbokhan, 2000; Earth
trends, 2003; Garba, 2006).

1.1 Statement of the problem


Ghana with estimated population of about 26.21million people (2011) and 60 percent
youth, high rate of youth unemployment and high level of poverty in comparison to the
abundant human and material resources in the country is a serious problem to the nation.
Reports according to National Bureau of Statistics (2009; 2010), the national unemployment
rates for Ghana between 2000 and 2009 shown that the number of unemployed persons
constituted 31.1% in 2000; 13.6% in 2001; 12.6% in 2002; 14.8% in 2003; 13.4% in 2004;
11.9% in 2005; 13.7% in 2006; 14.6% in 2007; 14.9% in 2008; and 19.7% in 2009. It is
important to note that the figures mentioned above may not have captured in totality the
youth unemployment situation in Ghana, but however, this shows that the phenomenon is a
very critical issue with far reaching implications for the economic growth and the security of
the nation.
Unemployed youths roam the streets jobless, sometimes going into criminal activities
such as; drug abuse, child trafficking, kidnapping, political thuggery, cultism etc (Akpomi,
2008). It is against these backgrounds that the research investigated the socio-economic
effects of unemployment among Ghanian youths with particular reference to Azare
metropolis as a case study.

1.2 Objectives of the Study


The main objective of this study is to investigate the socio-economic effects of
unemployment among youths in Nigeria. Other specific objectives are to:
• Determine the extent to which unemployment has effect on socio- economic life of
youths in Ghana.
• Determine the relationship between unemployment and youths’ involvement in
criminal activities such as; drug abuse, child trafficking, kidnapping, political
thuggery, cultism etc in Ghana.

1.3 Research Q
hypothesis
1.3research Question and hypothesis
As a guide to the study, the following research questions were formulated:
• To what extent does unemployment influences youths’ socio-economic life in
Ghana?
• Is there any significant relationship between unemployment and youths in criminal
activities such as; drug abuse, child trafficking, kidnapping, political thuggery,
cultism etc in Ghana?
• Is there any significant relationship between unemployment and the youth
engagement on prostitution and other social vices in the society?

1.4 Significant o
1.4 significant of the study
The following null hypotheses were formulated to serve as a guide to the study, and were
tested at 0.05 level of significance.
H01: That youth unemployment as a socio-economic factor will not have any
significant
H02: That youth unemployment as socio-economic factor will not have any significant
influence in determining youth involvement in political thuggery and crises.
H03: That youth unemployment as a socio-economic factor will not have any
significant influence in determining the youth’s involvement in prostitution and other social
vices. It raises awareness of the challenges faced by unemployed youth and advocates for
interventions that promote their socio-economic inclusion and well-being.

1.5 Limitation of the study


Due to resource constraints, the study may not be able to comprehensively examine all factors
contributing to youth unemployment or assess the full range of its socio-economic effects.
The findings of the study may be influenced by factors such as sample size, data quality, and
research methodology.
The study’s scope is limited to the Ghanaian context and may not be directly applicable to other
countries or regions with different socio-economic conditions'

1.6 Organization of the Study

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the topic, including background information, the


problem statement, objectives, research questions, significance, and limitations of the study.
Chapter 2 reviews relevant literature on youth unemployment, examining theoretical
frameworks, empirical studies, and policy interventions.
Chapter 3 describes the research methodology, including the study design, data collection
methods, and analytical approach.
Chapter 4 presents the findings of the study, including an analysis of the factors contributing
to youth unemployment, its socio-economic impacts, and an evaluation of existing
interventions.
Chapter 5 offers conclusions and recommendations based on the study findings, highlighting
policy implications and areas for further research.

You might also like