THE IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON YOUTH SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN EDO STATE
ABSTRACT
Unemployment is a menace that is bedeviling countries across the globe, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. The current study was conducted to investigate the socio-economic impacts of unemployment on youths development in Egor local government area of Edo state, Nigeria. Five research hypotheses were formulated and tested in line with the research objectives at 0.05 level of significance. Self – completed structured questionnaire was used to collect data from randomly selected 150 respondents. However, 92 copies of questionnaire were valid for data analysis, given a response rate of 92%. The data collected were analyzed using simple frequency, percentage and chi-square techniques. The chi-square test, indicates a significant fit between unemployment and socio-economic development of Nigeria youths. In other words, majority of the respondents believed that unemployment affects the socio – economic status of the unemployed, which leads to criminality, dishonesty and other negative social vices. On the basis of this findings, the study concludes that unemployment among youths is high in Nigeria with the tendency of causing pervasive poverty, youth uneasiness, high rate of social vices and criminal activities if not controlled. The study therefore, recommends urgent intervention of government at local, state and federal level to curb the menace
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study    -    -
1.2 Statement of the Problem    -    -    
1.3 Research Questions    -    
1.4. Objectivesof the Study    -    -    
1.5.    Significance of the study
1.6.     Definition of terms    -    -    -
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Review of theoretical literature    -
2.2. Review of Empirical Literature    -    
2.3. Review of relevant theories
2.4.Theoretical Framework    -    -
2.5. Research Hypotheses    -
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1    Study Design    -    
3.2    Scope of the Study and Area of Study    -
3.3    Population of the Study    
 3.4    Sample Size and Sampling Techniques-    
3.5    Instrument of Data Collection    -    
3.6    Method of Data Collection    
3.7        Methods of Data Analysis    
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION  
4.1    Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Participants    -
4.2    Major Research Issues    -    -    
4.3    Test of Hypotheses    -    -    
4.4    Discussion of Findings    -
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, IMPLICATION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1    Summary of Findings    -    -
5.2    implications of the study for social work
Practice in Nigeria    -    -    -
5.3    Conclusion    -    -
5.4    Recommendations    -    
REFERENCES    -    
APPENDIX I    -    
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1        BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
    Unemployment is a global phenomenon, but it is more prevalent in most developing countries of the world, with resultant social, economic, political and psychological consequences (Ayinde, 2008; Emeka, 2011).One of the pressing challenges facing the Sub - Saharan African economies today is the trend of unemployment that has been on over the years. Unemployment is one of the major challenges facing developed and some developing countries. As it is been usually phrased, the phenomenon of Graduate unemployment (GU) in the developing countries constitute an unusual problems to labour market and the general economy of these countries. (Sulaimon, Rahim, Akintunde, &Ajiroba, 2016).
    Nigeria's current unemployment situation is short of expectations, such that a large percentage of educated, able and qualified citizens cannot secure paid employment (Omotosho, 2009). This indicate that Nigeria over the years has steadily crumbled from its extremely resilient and esteemed position among developing nations (Ipaye, 1998).
     According toOye, Ibrahim and Ahmad (2011), the state of unemployment demoralizes and increases the need of those who are able and enthusiastic to work but cannot find jobs.One of the major concerns of various administrations in Nigeria is the growing rate of unemployment in the country and it has consistently form part of the macroeconomic objectives of the government for the past decades (Omotosho, 2009). According to the World Bank Report (1993), the growing trend of employment and productivity of the Asian Tigers and Japan is responsible for their enviable and brilliant economic performance. Evidently, absence of the necessary framework to enhance employment and productivity level in Nigeria is the sole cause of the retard nature of Nigeria, the acclaimed giant of Africa. The trend and problem of unemployment in Nigeria remains obstinate with a tendency of growing geometrically to alarming rate of 3 million unemployed youth annually (Adelodun, 2006).
    The trend of unemployment in Nigeria has a devastating effect on the youths from an extensive gamut of socioeconomic clusters, both the highly and less educated, even though it has mainly troubled a sizeable portion of youths from less privilege backgrounds (Ipaye, 1998). According to Adebayo and Ogunrinola, (2006), unemployment trend in Nigeria touches the job seekers within the ages of 20 - 24 and 25 - 44 years more while there is fewer prevalence of unemployment within the ages of 15 -19, 55 - 59 and 65 years and above. The rate of open unemployment was 12% in March 2005; it rose to 19.7% in March 2009 while the rate of underemployment hovered around 19% in 1998 (National Bureau of Statistics, 2010). From this point of view, it is apparent that unemployment, particularly the unemployment of young graduates, hinders Nigeria's progress in so many ways. Aside from economic issue, it also creates eminent danger for political stability of our dear country (Ipaye, 1998). Consequently, massive youth unemployment as it is presently recorded in Nigeria portends a serious multifaceted problems and the threat of unemployment has gradually been acknowledged as a pressing Nigeria (Ipaye. 1998,Udu&Ugu. 2005).
    According to Umaru and Zubairu (2001), unemployment has been recognized as one of the major impediments to social-economic growth in most developing countries. It reduces the aggregate output of the economy and results in underutilization of human resources. The need to avert the negative effects of u7nemployment has made the tacklingof unemployment problems of feature very prominently in the development objective of developing countries (Omotor&Gbosi 2006). The issue of real output and employment growth in developing nations is a sine qua non for poverty reduction and a more equitable income distribution (Fofana, 2001). Omotor and Gbosi (2006) noted that the seriousness and nature of unemployment in Nigeria is relatively high when placed on the same pedestal with those of other African countries. According to them, in absolute terms; it is estimated that there are presently about 22 million youths unemployed in Nigeria.
1.2        STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
    Unemployment constitutes a serious socio-economic problem in Nigeria and is really a tragic condition that requires urgent and proactive attention. Indeed, it is alarming and worrisome to observe that Nigeria's graduates who are educated, able and willing to work cannot find a job. The situation is becoming hopeless, as the rate of unemployment keep rising without any proactive attempt to curb the menace (Kayode, Samuel & Silas, 2014). The trend of events in Nigeria, most especially, the falling oil prices, economic recession, insurgence in the Northern parts of the country among other factors. As a matter of fact, unemployment is one of the major developmental challenges facing Nigeria at the moment (Ipaye, 1998). Obadan and Odusola (2010) have found that the prevalence of unemployment in Nigeriaespecially in this 21st century is getting deeper and more pathetic, spiteful through ail faces of age groups, educational level and geographical spread.
    The challenge of youth unemployment is very presence in Nigeria, because every year thousands of graduates are turnout for whom there are no jobs opportunity (Emeka, 2011). Hence, the Nigerian labour markets are beleaguered with youth hawkers who typically would have found beneficial employment in some organizations (Echebiri, 2005; Uwoma, 2006). Given the large percentage of unemployed youths, the trend of unemployment is capable of destabilizing peace as they portend a serious threat in view of nascent democracy and blatant disregard for party politics (Adepegba, 2011).
Unemployment has negative consequence on the physical well-being of the peoples. The unemployed have high tendency to experience such feelings as downheartedness, melancholy, anger, acrimony and mortification (Goldney 1997). In addition, different form of misconducts like deceit, fraud, robbery and ferocity usually occur in a society with large number of unemployed populace. Britt (1994), Weich and Lewis (1998) and Reynolds (2000) studies have documented other forms of mental and health disorders, such as drug abuse, sexual assault, unwanted pregnancy, prostitution, and psychosomatic with unemployment.
    Compounding the challenges further is the absence of reliable statistics on the level of unemployment, as no organization has so far produce precise figures presenting the current unemployment rate in Nigeria (Udu&Agu, 2005), as in most occasion, the figures released by National Bureau of Statistics, and the World Bank, appeared contradictory. The reasons, alluded to the contradiction in employment statistics according to Raheen (1993), is the fact that only open unemployment is recognized and published by the official statistics. A review of extant reveals that most studies conducted on Nigeria's employment nature and structure situation have been largely devoted to unemployment and its determinants and or its impacts on economic growth (Adebayo &Ogunrinola, 2006; Omotor&Gbosi 2006). However, to the best knowledge of the author of this study, not much research attention has been given to the investigation of socio-economic effects of unemployment in Nigeria. Thus, the aforementioned challenges that motivated this study include the seemingly unabated high rate of unemployment in the country, the negative effect of unemployment on economic growth, the traumatizing effect of unemployment on Nigeria graduates and not being able to specify the exact causes of unemployment peculiar to Nigeria.
1.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.    What are the causes of unemployment in Nigeria?
2.    What are the economic impactof unemployment in Nigeria?
3.     What are the suitable ways to end unemployment in Nigeria?
1.4.OBJECTIVESOF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to ascertain the impact of unemployment on youth in Nigerian.
1.    To identify the Causes of unemployment in Nigeria
2.    To determine the economic Effects of unemployment in Nigeria.
3.    To proffer possible solutions to unemployment problems in Nigeria based on the research finding.
1.5.     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
    Owing to the down turn in the economic fortunes of this country over the years, the Nigerians have lost their pride of place, their status in the society has continued to dwindle.
    Today, it is sheer mirage for fresh graduates to dream of the good things of life. They are made to understand and accept that the graduates, unemployment should be seen as a passing phase in the history of the nation. It is very doubtful if the much desired change in the near future will bring us anything. Therefore, this study is aimed at showing how these effects of unemployment have on socio-economic growth in Nigeria economy.
    In conclusion, the findings of this work will help young graduates to know that white man’s job or white collar’s job as it is sometimes called is not the only means of survival. It will also stand as a guideline to them on the best way to live instead of engaging in social vices and also provide them with some ways of being self-employed, self-sufficient and even employing others.
1.6.     DEFINITION OF TERMS
    In this aspect we are concerned about the impact of unemployment and it socio-economic effect on youth.
    According to the Advanced Learner Dictionary, unemployment is defined as the amount of labour unused. When factor of production is not doing any job, we say it is unemployed.
Unemployment is a very dangerous phenomenon to an industrialized economic system. Future primitive communities in Nigeria was usually self-sufficient and no unemployment problem through their standard of living is a very low living.
The following terms are identified and defined as they are used in this study;
•    Employment: This is the state of being employed, it is when work is being done in order to earn money or a living. It can also be seen as the act of being employed in an institution or organization to perform some certain duties and earn money at the end.
•    Unemployment: This is a situation whereby one is able and willing to work at a prevailing wage rate but does not have work, or is not being engaged into any meaningful or well rewardable venture.
•    Employed: This is the condition or instance of being engaged into any meaningful, gainful and rewarding venture or activity in a place, and it also means persons in this situation of being engaged into meaningful activities.
•    Unemployed: This is the situation of not having a work or the issue of staying idle, not having job, and secondly it also means persons in this situation of not having a work, staying idle or not having job.
•    Unemployment rate: This is the percentage of labour force without jobs but they are willing and available for work.
•    Poverty: This is a living condition in which an individual is unable to take care of his or her basic needs like financials, clothing, food, shelter, inability to meet social and economic obligations, lack of gainful employment and other environmental opportunities at his or her disposal.
•    National Income: This is the total amount of income given to a country from economic activities especially on imports and exports transactions usually in a given year or the total value of goods and services produced annually in a country.
•    Economy: This is the relationship between production, trade and supply of money and consumption (and it patterns) in a particular area or region.
•    Economic Development: This refers to the concentrated actions of policy makers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area. It can also be referred to as the qualitative and quantitative changes in the economy.
•    Development: This is the improvement of something that is being regarded to the gradual change or growth of something that it becomes mores advance.
•    Society: This means the particular communities of people, who share the same customs, laws, believes etc.
•    Underutilization: This is when factors of production such as labour, capital and material resources like raw materials and funds are been used with very little or no capacity.
•    Mobilization: This is the act of moving people, factors of production such as labour and capital, resources and other tangible and intangible materials from one place to another where they are needed or to be useful